A judge has agreed to remove a “farcical” bail condition that a Pro-Palestinian activist living on Inis Oirr has to sign on at her local Garda station by phoning the Garda station on the nearby Inis Mór once a week.
Currently, Emma O’Grady (40) of Inis Oirr, Aran Islands, Galway is on bail pending a trial at Ennis Circuit Court where she is facing charges along with two co-accused concerning an alleged incursion at Shannon airport on May 17th of this year.
There is no Garda station on Inis Oirr where Ms O’Grady lives and her solicitor at Ennis District Court, Daragh Hassett applied that Ms O’Grady’s ‘signing on’ condition at the Garda Station on the nearby Inis Mór be lifted.
Bail conditions were originally set in the district court and amended by a High Court order and Mr Hassett said that Ms O’Grady abides by the signing on condition by checking with in Gardai “where she phones the Garda station on Inis Mór and tells them ‘I’m here’”.
Making an application for the removal of the signing on condition, Mr Hassett said: “It is a bit farcical really.”
He said that Gardai on Inis Mór "are quite unhappy at getting this phone call weekly to say ‘I’m here’."
Mr Hassett said that the signing on bail condition outlined in the court order requires that Ms O’Grady report each Tuesday evening at Inis Mór Garda Station to sign a book.
He said: “Obviously that doesn’t happen and can’t happen.”
Judge Alec Gabbett said that weather conditions over the Winter would keep Ms O’Grady on Inis Oirr.
Asked for the Garda view, Sgt Frank O’Grady told Judge Gabbett “common sense would say it is not practical” and Judge Gabbett lifted the signing on condition.
In the case, Ms O’Grady is charged with entering a restricted area adjacent to the control tower, Stand Number 42 airside at Shannon airport terminal building as a trespasser on May 17th last.
Ms O’Grady is also charged with the criminal damage of a nose, lower body & pitot static probe of Boeing 767 belonging to Omni Air International at Shannon the same date.
Ms O’Grady’s co-accused are arts worker, Nell Buckley (30) of Ard Omra, Ballyburke, Ballymoneen Road, Galway and Jane Windey (31) of Hessions Corner, Claregalway, Galway and they are all contesting the trespass and criminal damage charges from Shannon airport on May 17th.
Mr Hassett successfully applied for an 11pm curfew on Ms Buckley be lifted after telling Judge Gabbett that she works in the arts and the curfew effectively places her under house arrest.
Mr Hassett said that the curfew interferes with Ms Buckley’s work in the arts.
Mr Hassett said that all three of his clients have strictly abided by their bail terms.
Books of Evidence were served in the case and Judge Gabbett has returned the three for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.
Mr Hassett said that his clients are denying the charges and a jury will be required.
Mr Hassett said that he doesn’t expect the trial to commence until the Summer or Autumn of next year.
