A CO Longford man charged with having an explosive device on the eve of the State visit of Queen Elizabeth to the Republic last month has been granted bail at the Special Criminal Court.
Donal Billings (60), St Bridget’s Court, Drumlish, was charged with the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at Longford railway station car park on May 16th last.
Mr Justice Paul Butler said although gardaí had objected to bail, the court was satisfied Billings had no previous convictions for offences committed while on bail.
After yesterday’s hearing, which was conducted in Irish through an interpreter, Mr Justice Butler said the court would grant bail on an independent surety of €10,000 and impose a number of strict conditions.
Mr Justice Butler, sitting with Judge John O’Hagan and Judge Cormac Dunne, said these would include the provision that Billings live at an address nominated by gardaí and that he observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am.
Mr Justice Butler said Billings must sign on each day at an agreed Garda station between 9am and 9pm and allow gardaí to call to his address at any time. Billings is also to surrender his passport. He must agree not to contact any proposed prosecution witnesses in the case and is to ensure a mobile phone number provided to gardaí is contactable at all times and be the sole number used by him.
Mr Justice Butler remanded Billings in custody with consent to bail to appear before the court on June 28th.