Man admits to funding Isis from his Waterford home

A 26-YEAR-OLD man yesterday admitted providing funding from his Co. Waterford base to Isis.

Hassan Bal, formerly of O’Connell Street in Waterford city but in custody since his arrest in April last year, pleaded guilty to two counts relating to the funding and attempted funding of the terror group.

He was only called to speak when asked to confirm his identity and said ‘I am, yes,’ and ‘guilty’ in reply to the two charges.

Waterford Circuit Court heard Bal is from the UK and moved to Ireland with his family when he was 12, living in Wexford and then in Waterford from 2007.

He holds an Irish passport and was training to be an electrician. After he was arrested in April, the district court heard that his wife, who was also born in the UK, was pregnant with their first child.

Bal admitted unlawfully providing €400, using an An Post/Western Union money transfer in Co. Waterford on October 2, 2015, to Stevo Maksimovic in the city of Brako in Bosnia-Herzegovina, intending or knowing the funds would be used for the benefit or purposes of the terrorist group known as Isis or Daesh.

This carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail, on indictment.

He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully and wilfully attempting to collect or receive cash from a person known to him as Omar Abu Aziz, by means of telephonic communications and an intermediary at 2 Geron Way, London, knowing the funds would be used for Isis on October 23, 2015.

The offences are contrary to section 13 (3)(a) and section 13 (4) of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act of 2005.

Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha, defending, said it was a ‘very unusual case’ and predicted sentencing will take up to two hours.

He handed a document into court to request an expert on radicalisation, Dr Daniel Koelher of the German Institute of Radicalisation and De-Radicalisaion Studies, compiles out a report on Bal.

He also asked that Mr Koelher be given access to interviews with Bal and any associated documents including the Book of Evidence; that he provide a report on why Bal became ‘associated with such activities’ and if he has since been deradicalised and whether he does not appear to support ‘terrorist organisations like Islamic State’ any more.

Mr Ó Lideadha also asked that Mr Koelher be available to give evidence at the sentencing hearing, and is allowed access to Bal in prison to carry out further investigations and compile a report.

Judge Eugene O’Kelly agreed to extend the legal aid certificate and ordered that the expert report is available to the prosecution at least a week before the sentencing hearing. This was agreed by the State prosecutor.

Bal was remanded in custody, to appear again on April 10.