Bail variation refused for man charged with New IRA claim of shot detective

One of the men charged in connection with the claim of responsibility for the shooting of a PSNI detective has been refused permission to vary his bail at Derry Magistrate's Court.

Tiernan McFadden (26) of Carnhill in Derry is charged with one count of possessing a document for use in terrorism namely a claim of responsibility for the shooting on February 26.

The charge relates to the claim of responsibility by the New IRA for the shooting of PSNI Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh which appeared on a piece of paper stuck on a wall in Creggan.

At today's hearing Derwin Harvey defence solicitor for McFadden said his client was seeking permission to travel to Amsterdam for 'a three day break' with his partner.

The application was opposed and a prosecution barrister said that the defendant had been released on bail with conditions and these conditions could not be policed if he was abroad.

She said that the tickets for the trip had been purchased in January yet the application was only coming to the court now.

Mr Harvey said there was no increased risk in the defendant leaving the jurisdiction for a couple of days.

He said that other people charged with serious terrorism type offences had been permitted to go to Donegal where they would be out of the jurisdiction.

The solicitor said that his client had not breached his bail in any way since being charged.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that a lot if people would love to take a break but simply couldn't.

He said that he believed this was 'a step too far' and refused the variation.