Man refused bail for role in planned mosque attack

A County Down man charged with terrorism offences linked to a planned attack on a mosque has been refused bail for "playing a role" in a group identifying itself as the Irish Defence Army (IDA).

Connor Pollock, 38, of Croob Park in Ballynahinch, appeared in Downpatrick Magistrates' Court via video-link from HMP Maghaberry, charged with withholding information about the preparation of a terrorist act.

The charge relates to a planned attack on a mosque in Galway.

Pollock is also charged with the possession of records or documents useful to terrorists.

The charge also included threats of violence against facilities for migrants and those providing them, as well as the possession of a mobile phone for purposes connected with the preparation of an act of terrorism.

Giving evidence in court today, Det Con McGuinness said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had 'substantive objections' to the bail application as a result of an investigation "into extreme, right wing terrorism".

Downpatrick Magistrates Court also heard that a brother of Pollock had been remanded into custody in the Republic of Ireland, charged with having explosives following the cross-border investigation.

The court heard that on 5 November, Gardaí (Irish police) in the Republic informed the PSNI they had arrested 35-year-old Garrett Pollock, the younger brother of the defendant.

Along with another man, he has been remanded in custody in relation to explosives charges and an alleged "planned attack on a mosque in Galway".

When Garrett Pollock was arrested, officers found bullet proof vests in the car along with six containers of hydrogen peroxide, hunting knives, a hatchet and component parts for pipe bombs.

During a search of a flat in Drogheda, Garda officers uncovered a number of blast incendiary devices, and a further search of Garrett Pollock's property in Annalong, County Down, uncovered further blast devices and component bomb parts.

In addition, police seized an instruction manual on how to build an improvised explosive device as well as a 15-point plan to attack a mosque.

Also seized was a number of mobile phones and it was an examination of those devices which led to the arrest of Connor Pollock.

Det Con McGuinness told the court that as a result of those examinations, police have obtained evidence that Connor Pollock "holds the same ideology as his brother".

According to documents seized, that ideology is that any hotel or landlord who provides accommodation to immigrants is to be considered as a "legitimate target".

The examinations also revealed that Garrett Pollock allegedly told a third party that his brother "could source firearms".

It also emerged that Connor Pollock had been in possession of a document claiming responsibility for the proposed attack on the Galway mosque and further, that he had sent that to his girlfriend.

The 38-year-old was also found to allegedly be in possession of an "oath and affirmation of allegiance" to the IDA.

Connor Pollock was arrested on 9 December and Det Con McGuinness outlined how he "made various admissions" to having the claim of responsibility and that he had sent a copy of it to his partner.

Finishing her objections to the bail application, she said the investigation was still at a very early stage and last month there was an arrest made in the Republic of Ireland in relation to the case and police believe there was at least one person linked to the IDA still outstanding.

She said they also still needed to question witnesses and was concerned that if defendant was released he would continue to offend and potentially interfere with the investigation.

Det Con McGuinness said: "it is quite clear the IDA has links to the Republic and the defendant could use those to flee the jurisdiction."

It was also mentioned that Pollock had breached court bail conditions for an unrelated matter in 2019.

Defence Counsel Sean Doherty revealed that during police interviews, police accepted that his client "is not a member of the IDA".

He said the case against the defendant was that "he had sympathy for the group" but was not a member of the IDA and that didn't draft any of the documents. Instead, they were sent to him by his brother and he simply forwarded them on to his partner.

Mr Doherty said: "this case amounts to an expression of ill-informed views. In truth, he is a man devoid of any strongly held political views. He has a limited criminal record. In essence, there is no reason to believe this man would do anything other than abide by the bail conditions."

Deputy District Judge, Liam McStay, said that he was not concerned by bail being breached previously in an unrelated matter but was concerned by the police investigation being at an early stage.

He said "this is a strong bail application" but the investigation has realistic steps in place which would be frustrated by "a friend of this group."

He refused bail and the case is due to be heard again on 15 January.