Northern Ireland

Court refuses to vary bail conditions to allow terror suspect to go on holidays to Spain

Laganside Court in Belfast
Laganside Court in Belfast Laganside Court in Belfast

AN application to relax bail conditions imposed on man branded a "dedicated terrorist" which would allow him to holiday in Spain was refused today by a senior judge.

Dunmurry father-of-five Liam Hannaway - who is currently awaiting trial with others on charges arising from an M15 operation - launched the application at Belfast Crown Court.

Tom MacCreanor, the barrister acting on behalf of Hannaway, urged Mr Justice Colton to grant the request to allow his client to go on holiday. However, the application was opposed by the Crown, who said the accused was facing serious charges, and has already served a lengthy sentence for similar offences.

Hannaway (49) from White Rise in the Lagmore area of Dunmurry, was arrested with others following a raid at a house in Newry in November 2014. The raid followed months of secret surveillance when a series of meetings by suspected dissidents were bugged.

He has been charged with, and denies, 13 terrorist-related offences including membership of a proscribed organisation, conspiracy to possess explosives and providing weapons training.

The non-jury is due to commence in Belfast this November.

Mr MacCreanor told the court that while Hannaway had not yet booked or paid for a holiday "until he knows whether or not he is allowed to go", it was his intention - if the application was successful - to go to mainland Spain.

Mr MacCreanor reminded Mr Justice Colton that while he had refused a previous application to allow Hannaway to holiday in Turkey, he had granted a prior request to relax bail conditions which allowed him to holiday in the Republic.

Highlighting a number of concerns, the Crown barrister however said Hannaway's previous record for "significant" similar offences, coupled with the charges he currently faces, gave rise to "real fears" he could re-offend.

Regarding the offences he is accused of, the barrister cited Hannaway as being "at the very centre of the conspiracy".

He also accused Hannaway of "trying to deceive the court" whilst on bail, and said that in June 2016 he appeared at Newry Magistrates Court in bid to get his tag removed.

The prosecutor said that he arrived in court on crutches and wearing a surgical boot and "suggested he had suffered a serious leg injury" - but told the court: "He was caught on camera where he was observed walking without a cast or crutches and with no obvious difficulty with his mobility."

Concluding his opposition, the barrister said this behaviour, his record and the charges he now faces "shows he is a dedicated terrorist" and there was a "real cause for concern about re-offending", as well as a risk of flight.

Mr Justice Colton said he was familiar with the background to the case and noted Hannaway and his co-accused were facing serious offences.

The judge said that while he accepted Hannaway had been on bail for a significant period of time, any conditions imposed "are there for a reason".

Mr Justice Colton then refused the application to relax bail conditions to allow Hannaway to go to Spain - but said he would allow him to holiday in the Republic again, if the relevant details were provided to the court.