A Co Tyrone man awaiting sentence for a terrorist offence had his bail revoked.
Gabriel Paul Meehan is due to be sentenced next month on a charge of making a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
The 45-year old, from Meelmore Drive, Omagh, has admitted that between March 15 and May 7 2021 he recorded information “namely a handwritten note containing the vehicle registration mark of a serving member of the British Army, digital images of an improvised firearm and digital images of Enniskillen Police Station and the surrounding area”.
A Crown application to revoke Meehan’s bail was made at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday following information contained in a pre-sentence report which detailed his lack of remorse and victim empathy as well as his continued support for dissident republicanism to a probation officer.
The contents were branded as “rather disturbing” by Mr Justice O’Hara.
Prior to reaching his decision, the senior judge was addressed by defence barrister Joe Brolly, who asked for his client’s bail to continue until May 24, when he is due to be sentenced.
Branding Meehan as “vulnerable” and “suggestable”, Mr Brolly said his client was granted bail in 2021 and during the intervening period he has experienced psychiatric issues, which had resulted in medical assessments and a psychiatric report due to be compiled ahead of sentencing.
He told the court that at the time of offending, Meehan was a member of Republican Sinn Féin, but no longer has anything to do with the group adding whilst on bail, Meehan had not re-offended.
Mr Justice O’Hara said Meehan has shown “zero remorse” for his offending and in the pre-sentence report had “demonstrated no victim empathy and attempted to rationalise that individuals may be unintentionally harmed”.
Crown barrister Ciaran Murphy KC said the contents of the pre-sentence report “evidences precisely the concern of the courts over many years about terrorist offences and the inability of defendants to change their ways”.
With Meehan pleading guilty, Mr Murphy said it was Crown’s view that he presents a risk to the public and should no longer be at liberty.
Mr Justice O’Hara said that whilst Meehan was initially granted bail pending a trial, his subsequent guilty plea meant the presumption of innocence “no longer applies”.
He added that the pre-sentence report “includes a series of comments to the effect that far from being in any way remorseful, Mr Meehan openly and with enthusiasm continues to support violence as a means to achieving a United Ireland”.
Voicing concerns about information collected by Meehan, his actions, lack of remorse and continuing support for “violent Republicanism”, Mr Justice O’Hara said he “appears to pose a risk to the public”.