AN terrorism investigation which led to the arrest and charge of an Irish citizen has involved the FBI and London's Metropolitan Police, a court in Ireland has been told.
Hassan Bal, 25 and formerly living at an address at O’Connell Street in Waterford, was refused bail when he made his second appearance before Waterford District Court on May 2.
He is charged with providing funding for a foreign terrorist group on October 2, 2015, and attempting to collect funding for a foreign terrorist group on October 23, 2015.
Originally from Britain, Mr Bal moved to Ireland 14 years ago with his family and has lived in Waterford for several years.
An Irish citizen, he works as a trainee electrician and had lived in rented accommodation in the city centre before his arrest last week.
A married man, his wife is also in Ireland and expecting their first baby.
At Waterford District Court, the accused’s mother Dr Caroline Ward-Fahy said it was “very shocking” to be in this situation.
When asked her how she proposed to ensure, if her son was granted bail, that he would comply with his bail conditions, she added: “Since my son was born, when I tell him to do something, he will do it.”
“He will do that as his duty to God because his mother is a very important part of his faith.”
She said “I don’t know what’s alleged” but added that she was aware that her son is “innocent, and that will be proven”.
Asked what assurance she could give of her son complying with any bail conditions, she said: “The strongest assurance you can ever have is that my son is obedient to me, because of his faith.”
Gardaí objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the alleged offences; the potential sentence if convicted which could be up to 20 years; and the risk of flight out of the country by Hassan Bal if granted bail.
Detective Sergeant Donal Donohoe told the court he believed the accused was likely to commit similar offences if granted bail.
He also believed the accused was a flight risk as the address he was living in was no longer available to him. “He no longer has a permanent address in this country.”
“As part of this investigation we made enquiries through Interpol and other police forces, primarily the London Metropolitan Police and the FBI,” Detective Sergeant added.
Cross-examining the detective, the accused’s solicitor Ken Cunningham said the accused’s mother was willing to stand bail for him and allow him to live in her home.
“I honestly believe,” the detective said, “that she is not aware of the full facts of the case.”
Judge Kevin Staunton said he had no doubt the accused’s mother was a genuine witness and a believable person and said he accepted she was “shocked by the turn of events that has led her here today”.
He said he was “influenced greatly” by Detective Sergeant Donohoe’s evidence about Mr Bal being a flight risk and said he also believed there was a strong likelihood of Mr Bal committing “further offences of this nature, which are very serious offences”.
Judge Staunton refused bail and remanded Hassan Bal in custody to appear again in the district court on May 9.
