Terrorism accused in custody over bail breaches

A MAN accused of terrorism offences relating to the targeting of a retired police officer has been remanded in custody after breaching bail conditions.

Damien Daniel Duffy (51), who was ordered to reside at Westclare Road, Dungannon, is accused of preparing acts of terrorism by installing a wildlife camera near the home of the alleged target in September 2016, while another was placed on a road nearby.

He is further charged with possessing an article for use in a terrorist act and attempting to collect information about the movements of a former member of the PSNI.

Duffy appeared by video-link before Omagh Magistrates Court.

He was not at his address when police attended shortly before 2.30am on March 15. Police had received a 999 call from the uncle of Duffy’s wife Carol, alleging she had assaulted her mother before leaving the property. She was arrested at her nearby home, but Duffy wasn’t present.

It transpired he had travelled to his mother’s home in Lurgan.

Police accepted there was a domestic incident, but said there was no reason for Duffy to leave his bail address.

A further breach occurred when a relative drove him to his mother’s home, when he is only permitted to travel with his wife.

A defence barrister explained on Mother’s Day Duffy was socialising at his in-laws when “a private, sensitive matter involving his wife occurred. It was a highly volatile situation. Police were required to attend and his wife was arrested. My client took what he thought were appropriate steps to remove himself from an emergency situation”.

Having spent the night at his mother’s, Duffy left a message with his solicitor to make a bail variation, as his home address had become “simply untenable. It’s sensitive and going to be very difficult to repair... it has effectively led to marital breakdown”.

“It’s how to tweak existing bail conditions so there are no issues moving forward,” he added.

The defence requested a bail variation allowing Duffy to reside with his mother.

The prosecutor responded: “The address is in the Kilwilkee estate, where there are a large number of associates. There are great concerns around him moving back there.”

Duffy’s lawyer requested the court recognise “this extraordinary set of circumstances”.

However, Judge Ievers concluded: “The defendant can consider himself very lucky bail hasn’t been revoked. The issue with the address is causing the court concern.”