SUSPECTS IN REAL IRA CHIEF ALAN RYAN MURDER REFUSED BAIL

Murdered Real IRA boss Alan Ryan

Murdered Real IRA boss Alan Ryan

TWO suspects in the murder of Real IRA chief Alan Ryan were refused bail by a court in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

Enniskillen Magistrastes Court heard detectives from the PSNI’s Serious and Orgnaised Crime branch found over 65,000 euros during a search of a house in the town earlier this month.

The pair were arrested last week during a police investigation into serious and organised crime.

Pascal Kelly, 43, from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, and Jonathan Gill, 31, from Dublin are each charged with possession of criminal property.

Mr Kelly is also accused of having a false passport and obstructing the police.

A Garda investigation into the murder of Real IRA boss Alan Ryan in Dublin last September has linked Kelly and Gill to its inquiries.

A detective told the court on Wednesday that the men were arrested after police stopped a car on the Queen Elizabeth Road in Enniskillen on February .

The police found keys to an apartment at Portora Wharf and during a search 65,826 euros and £2,669 was discovered.

The police also seized 24 mobile telephones.

In the same apartment block, three PSNI officers were also living, causing a major security alert.

The detective said a passport was found containing Mr Kelly’s photograph, but which was in the name of Brendan Duffy, the same name Mr Kelly had given when arrested.

When interviewed by the police he said the two accused replied “no comment”.

The detective said the police believed the two accused were members of an organised crime group.

Their lawyer described that as “mischievous” and that family and friends had offered cash sureties of £10,000 on behalf of each and had gone to significant lengths to find suitable addresses for bail.

The court heard that 11 addresses had been provided to the police as part of the bail application of which two were deemed suitable, but bail was objected to on the grounds that the defendants would flee Northern Ireland.

The court was told Mr Kelly faces three arrest warrants issued by courts in the Republic of Ireland in respect of two motoring offences and a tax case.

The district judge described the bail application as “entirely hopeless”.

He said Mr Kelly’s criminal record in the Republic showed that he was a “seasoned practiced criminal” with convictions for robbery and escaping lawful custody.

He said if he was granted bail he would not turn up for trial in any circumstances.

When interviewed by the police he had chosen to remain silent when given an opportunity to offer an explanation.

He said Jonathan Gill was “singing from the same hymn sheet” and he was not satisfied he would turn up for trial.

Bail was refused and both men were remanded in custody.

 

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