Downpatrick man accused of terrorist-related offences

Downpatrick man accused of terrorist-related offences

1 February 2012

A DOWNPATRICK man has appeared in court charged with terrorism-related offences.

Ryan Lavery (27), of Ballymote Park, was arrested last Wednesday over photos found on his computer of cars going in and out of Ballykinlar army base. There was also a paper list of registration numbers.

Lavery appeared at North Down Magistrate’s Court in Bangor on Friday morning, accused of gathering information which might be of use to terrorists.

He was brought to the hearing in a police van, with a significant security presence in and around the court.

A detective told the court that Lavery had been living near the army base at the time the photographs were taken and that he had admitted during police interviews taking them and putting them on his computer.

Opposing bail, the detective said that police believe Lavery could have been collecting the information for others and that he had changed his name and address on several occasions.

The accused’s solicitor, Mr. Joe Mulholland, described his client as “a loner, an anorak and a trainspotter”, who was not a terrorist and had no connections to any terrorist group..

District Judge Mark Hamill refused bail and Lavery was remanded in custody to appear back in court on February 23. A High Court application for bail is expected to be made later this week.