A MAN charged with IRA membership and explosive offences has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court after his former partner "scraped together" a sum of money by selling a buggy, her washing machine and drier.
Paul Dodd (29), of St Matthews Park, Ballymahon, Co Longford appeared before an out-of-hour sitting of the non-jury court last Friday charged with membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on June 24, 2015.
Mr Dodd was charged with possession of the component parts of an improvised explosive device, including assorted shotgun cartridges and shotgun propellant at his home on June 24 and with the possession of approximately 30 assorted shotgun cartridges at the same address on the same date.
Conditions
He was granted bail by the three-judge court on a number of conditions yesterday and on an independent surety of €500.
Det Insp Hanrahan said he knew Mr Dodd was a man of very little means but the gardai required a surety to reflect the seriousness of the offences with which Mr Dodd was charged.
Mr Tony Justice Hunt, presiding, said each case was considered on its own merits and on the basis of evidence proffered.
The judge told Ms Hoskins that if there was any difficulty and Mr Dodd did not comply with his bail "that money is gone".