Man facing terrorism charges linked to undercover operation granted bail

Gary Hayden appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday via video-link

A man facing terrorism charges linked to a major undercover MI5 and police surveillance operation has been granted bail.

Gary Joseph Hayden, 51, of Tyrconnell Street in Londonderry, is charged with a number of offences arising from alleged meetings in 2020 in a County Tyrone property.

These include directing terrorism and belonging to a proscribed organisation, the New IRA, as part of Operation Arbacia.

Mr Hayden spent almost three years on remand before being granted bail in December 2023.

He was arrested on 8 February for breaching bail conditions linked to use of his mobile phone and was returned back to custody.

He appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday via video-link from prison, where a fresh application for bail was made.

'Nothing sinister'

Mr Justice O'Hara was informed that Mr Hayden's breaches concerned the deletion of internet search history, his phone's location settings and the use of WhatsApp.

His barrister accepted that internet searches should not have been deleted by her client, but said "nothing sinister" was located on Mr Hayden's phone after it was seized and underwent forensic examination.

She added the 51-year old was "not well informed or experienced" when it came to technology.

She added that regarding the location setting, Mr Hayden "wouldn't know where or how" to access it and was not even aware whether it was turned on or off.

Opposing bail, a prosecution barrister said Mr Hayden was an individual "who knew what the conditions were" and said "he has breached them in a flagrant way".

Mr Justice O'Hara said it was Mr Hayden's responsibility to equip himself about "mobile phone management" and said he was "sceptical about the explanations put forward" regarding the breaches.

The judge granted Mr Hayden bail on the same terms of the original application and warned him of the consequences of any further breaches.