Scottish GP remanded over terror charges

A Scottish GP is among the latest people to be remanded into custody in Northern Ireland as part of a major police investigation into the New IRA.

Issam Basalat, 62, of Telford Road in Edinburgh, is accused of preparation of terrorist acts in relation to his attendance at an alleged meeting of the New IRA at an address at Buninver Road in Omagh, Co Tyrone, on July 19.

David Jordan, 49, of Cappagh Road in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, also appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Jordan is accused of belonging to a proscribed organisation between February 8 and July 20, directing a terrorist organisation, and preparation of terrorist acts through attending the same meeting at Buninver Road in Omagh, as well as attending a meeting in Sixmilecross on February 9.

Both men appeared in court remotely by video-link from Musgrave police station.

A PSNI detective chief inspector told the court he believed he could connect the two accused to the charges they face, and agreed he was aware of audio and video evidence in the case.

There was no application for bail.

A defence lawyer for Basalat set out that his client is a GP based in Scotland who previously chaired the Palestinian Society in Scotland and has addressed the Scottish Parliament.

“He has addressed a number of political groups on a number of political issues in an entirely peaceful and democratic way, nor has he come to the attention of the police for any of those activities,” he told the court.

He said his client had been “pestered” to attend and address a public meeting that he believed had an “exclusively political purpose”, while he was in Northern Ireland to obtain a passport for his daughter in Belfast, and went on to claim that his client had been “entrapped” by an MI5 agent.

A defence lawyer for Jordan said issues have been raised around the transcript of some of the evidence.

Jordan’s defence lawyer also contended that his client had been lured to attend the meetings and brought “under false pretences”.

A bail hearing for Basalat is to be heard on September 9.