Eamon Bradley being taken into custody after appearing at a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court on Saturday. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography.
The Derry man charged with attending an explosives and weapons training camp in Syria will today make a fresh bid to be released from custody.
Eamon Bradley (25), from Melmore Gardens in the Creggan Estate, was refused bail when he appeared at special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court on Saturday.
He had been arrested at his home the previous Thursday after returning the day before from Syria where, during police interviews, he admitted fighting in three battles against ISIL and the Assad regime.
Saturday’s court hearing also heard he told police he attended training camps under the control of Jaysh Al Islam (Army of Islam) and received weapons and explosives training and signed up to join the Mujahadeen.
The court was told he returned home after becoming “disillusioned.”
A detective sergeant from the PSNI’s Serious Crimes Branch objected to bail on the grounds that Bradley would abscond and because there was a risk that he would re-offend.
The officer said he also believed the defendant would attempt to radicalise young people here.
Defence solicitor Ciaran Harkin said the defendant had converted to Islam five years ago and had travelled to Syria to assist the Syrian people in the civil war.
Mr Harkin said the defendant had no previous convictions and had answered all the questions put to him by the police.
He said if refused bail the defendant could spend up to a year in custody awaiting any future trial.
Despite stating Bradley had been fighting against a “tyrannical and murderous regime,” Resident Magisrate Barney McElholm rejected the bail application.
Mr McElholm added: “No doubt the regime in Syria has committed gross atrocities and human rights violations throughout that conflict. I would find it very hard for a state to argue that fighting against ISIL is an act of terrorism.”
However, Mr McElholm said he was concerned as to why the defendant had not explained why he had returned to Northern Ireland.
He also said he had to take into consideration police fears that he accused might try to radicalise young people here or abscond.
Refusing bail, Mr McElholm said: “With some reluctance I am going to refuse bail and he does have the right to apply for bail to the High Court.”
Bradley remanded in custody to appear, via video link, at Derry Magistrates Court on 4 December.
Bradley is due to make his bail application at Royal Courts of Justice via video link from Magheraberry Prison this morning.
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