An alleged INLA leader was refused bail today after a senior detective revealed details of his suspected involvement in the attempted extortion of a businessman.
Declan Duffy (34) from Armagh, a married father-of-two young children, was also refused bail because his previous conviction linked to a previous gangland battle in which a man was killed, a judge said.
Mr Duffy is charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish National Liberation Army, otherwise the INLA on June 22nd. Mr Duffy denies the charge.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in central Dublin, said it was with much regret that he denied bail for the first time in recent years to a terror suspect.
“But in this case there is an added element,” he said.
Mr Justice Butler said the charge of membership of an illegal organisation involved further evidence that the defendant was directing the activities of the Republican faction.
The three-judge court also took into consideration that Mr Duffy was convicted for false imprisonment and possession of a shotgun at Ballymount Industrial Estate, south Dublin in 2001.
The incident involved a fierce battle between INLA men and a criminal gang based in the Crumlin-Walkinstown area, during which INLA man Patrick Campbell (22), died from machete wounds.
A member of the criminal group, Patrick Neville, from Inchicore, was shot dead in a revenge attack.
Mr Duffy, who has an address at Hanover Street West, in Dublin south inner city, is also suspected of involvement in the alleged €1.6 million extortion attempt on a businessman in Cork in February.
Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O’Sullivan, of the Garda Special Detective Unit, said he objected to the bail application because he believed Mr Duffy would continue to direct the INLA and be involved in procuring firearms and explosives.
Mr Duffy was led away amid a heavy Garda presence after being remanded in custody until July 31st.
PA