The Irish News
Barry McCaffrey
A Co Tyrone dissident republican who is alleged to be 'cooperating' with the Garda has abandoned an attempt to be released on bail.
Martin Kelly (35) of Barrack Street, Strabane, had been due to apply for bail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday. Earlier this month he was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in Donegal in February 2008.
The charge relates to the murder of Strabane man Andrew Burns. Mr Burns (27) was abducted by dissidents and shot dead in a church car park at Doneyloop, Castlefin, Co Donegal in February 2008 after he was alleged to be a police informer. The dissident group Oglaigh Na hEireann (ONH) was blamed for the killing. Mr Kelly was one of three men arrested and questioned about the murder but was later released without charge.
Dissident sources now claim he is 'cooperating' with the Garda and may have already passed on information which they fear will lead to arrests. The move is understood to have caused panic among ONH, which Mr Kelly had previously been associated with.
When he appeared at the Special Criminal Court yesterday his solicitor informed judges that he had now instructed him not to proceed with the bail application.
It is understood that Mr Kelly is not being held with other dissident prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. He was remanded in custody yesterday to reappear in court again on May 4.
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