INLA kidnap plot accused freed on bail

Two men charged with membership of the Irish National Liberation Army were today granted bail with strict conditions at the Special…

Two men charged with membership of the Irish National Liberation Army were today granted bail with strict conditions at the Special Criminal Court.

The men were part of a five-man gang arrested by detectives who foiled an alleged kidnap and extortion plot on a Co Cork businessman over a fortnight ago.

Gardaí made no objection to bail.

At the non-jury court in Dublin, Neil Myles (53), of no fixed abode, was ordered to stay at a house in north Cork City, while John McCrossan (46), of Ballycolman Estate, Strabane, Co Tyrone, is to live at an address on Main Street, Lifford, Co Donegal.

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Both men must sign on daily at a Garda station, maintain a curfew between 11pm and 7am, not contact any prosecution witnesses and hand in their passports. Mr McCrossan was also ordered to stay away from Co Cork.

Three other men - two with addresses in Dublin and one in Strabane, Co Tyrone - were released on bail with similar conditions last month despite Garda objections.

The five were among seven people arrested in Cork, Kerry and Limerick on February 22nd in a garda operation to thwart the kidnapping of a businessman and his family. Detectives believe an INLA gang were planning to extort money from the man, who lived in the  Montenotte area of Cork City.

Two men were released without charge and detectives were preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The five are to appear before the court again on April 15th.