Former Sinn Fein officer freed on bail
Friday December 09 2005
The Court of Criminal Appeal freed Niall Binead, pending the outcome of a legal challenge to emergency laws.
A former secretary of a south Dublin Sinn Fein cumann, he was a close associate of Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South Central, Aengus O Snodaigh.
Binead was released on his own bond of €1,000 and two independent sureties of €10,000 each. The court ordered him to sign on twice a week at Crumlin Garda Station, to surrender his passport and not to associate with anyone convicted of a scheduled offence.
Since Binead will not have an early hearing of his appeal and because the Supreme Court has to determine another case, the outcome of which will affect Binead's case, Ms Justice Fidelma Macken yesterday said she would grant bail.
Binead (36), of Faughart Road, Crumlin was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court last year after being convicted of membership of an illegal organisation on October 10, 2002.
His co-accused, Kenneth Donohoe (27), of Sundale Ave, Mountain View , Tallaght, was freed on bail by the Court of Criminal Appeal last month.
Their trial heard how gardai found a list of the names of TDs - including three former Justice Ministers - at Binead's home.
