A WEST Belfast woman charged with collecting information useful to terrorists was granted bail but remains in custody after prosecutors objected to her release.
Fionnuala Perry, known as Nuala, was charged after a search of her home uncovered handwritten notes police claim are New IRA 'security briefings'.
During a special Saturday sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court, District Judge Bernie Kelly was told that a Personal Independence Payments application form submitted to the government in 2017 by Ms Perry was matched to the writing on the notes.
Police said a handwriting expert had compared the two and there was "strong support" for a connection.
The 61-year-old is charged with two counts of collecting information useful to terrorists between September 2015 and last February.
Police said the notes were a mixture of plain language and coded words.
Ms Perry is a member of the dissident republican party Saoradh. A raid was carried out at her home in the Clonard area last February.
Cigarette papers and tracing paper were recovered from a perfume box which contained handwritten notes relating to PSNI activity in the area, details police say were never released to the press or public.
Police say the notes relate to a raid in Ballymurphy in September 2015 in which more than 500g of Semtex, two handguns, more than 200 rounds of ammunition and two detonators were recovered.
Officers said the notes referred to individuals spoken to by officers in relation to the raid but whose details had never been made public.
The judge said: "Mrs Perry, this is a fine balancing exercise between these charges and your rights enshrined by legal conventions. I am going to release you under strict conditions."
Her bail conditions include having no access to any internet-enabled communications device, a curfew and a requirement to sign on once a week at Musgrave Police Station.
She was due to be released on her own bail of £500 and a cash surety of £2,000.
However, the Public Prosecution Service immediately lodged an appeal against the granting of bail and Ms Perry was held in custody pending an appeal court hearing this week.
