A Co Louth man charged with membership of the "Real IRA" was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court yesterday to allow him attend family Communion and Confirmation ceremonies.
Mr Liam Campbell (41), a father of two, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, is due to stand trial in May and July on two charges of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on dates in October 2000 and July 2001.
A previous conviction, in October 2001, also of "Real IRA" membership, led to a five-year sentence but this was quashed on appeal.
Yesterday Mr Campbell's solicitor, Mr James McGuill, told the court there was consent to Mr Campbell being allowed his own bail to attend a Communion and Confirmation.
Mr McGuill said the first period of bail was to be from April 29th to May 1st, and the second from June 5th to June 7th.
Mr Campbell gave an undertaking to the court to sign on at Dundalk Garda station on the days of his temporary bail.