A MAN arrested as part of an investigation into the alleged funding of international terrorism was remanded in custody when he appeared at Waterford District Court.
Hassan Bal (25), with an address at O’Connell Street in Waterford, was arrested in the city before 10am on Thursday morning and questioned throughout the day at the garda station in Ballybricken, Waterford.
In the early hours of Friday morning, he was charged with providing funding for a foreign terrorist group on October 2, 2015, and attempting to provide funding to a foreign terrorist group on October 23, 2015.
Married and originally from Britain, Mr Bal has lived in Ireland for over a decade, mostly in the Waterford area.
The trainee electrician holds an Irish passport.
Mr Bal appeared at Waterford District Court this morning, April 28, charged with the offences under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act of 2005.
Wearing a dark grey t-shirt and black jacket, he sat alone in the courtroom.
Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Detective Inspector Anthony Pettit and Detective Sergeant Donal Donohue.
The court heard the accused made no reply to either charge.
Inspector Anthony Dineen applied to the court for a remand in custody and there was no objection from the accused’s solicitor, Pat Newell, who said they were reserving their position in relation to bail.
Judge Kevin Staunton remanded the accused in custody to appear again before Waterford district court next Tuesday. He granted free legal aid upon application by Mr Newell.
Mr Bal's arrest came as part of a major investigation led by gardaí in Waterford, linked to a wider Britain-based international intelligence probe.
After the arrest, officers carried out a search of the rented property in which the suspect was living.
The operation was carried out by local gardaí and members of the Garda Technical Bureau, with support from armed gardaí from the response units.
A 22-year-old woman, also from Britain originally, was arrested at the same time as Mr Bal and questioned by gardaí throughout Thursday.
She was released without charge just after 1.40am on Friday morning. A file in relation to her arrest is being prepared for the DPP.
