The man gardaí believe is a leader of the Real IRA in the greater Dublin region was granted 24 hours' bail by the Special Criminal Court yesterday to allow him to attend his daughter's First Communion.
Joseph Clarke was remanded in custody last month after the court heard that he had breached his bail conditions by being seen twice in the company of men convicted of subversive offences.
Clarke (36), of Forestwood Close, Santry Avenue, Dublin, was charged in January with IRA membership. During a bail hearing Det Supt Diarmuid O'Sullivan told the court that he believed Clarke was a leader of the Real IRA in the greater Dublin region.
The court granted Clarke bail in January on his own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €40,000 and on conditions that included no contact with any person convicted of or charged with subversive offences.
Yesterday, Clarke's counsel Michael Bowman BL applied for 24 hours' bail to allow him to attend his daughter's First Communion next month. Prosecution solicitor Denis Butler said there was no objection by the State but he asked for a substantial cash lodgement for the bail period.
The court allowed bail on condition that €7,500 in cash is lodged at Portlaoise Prison. The court also ordered Clarke to sign on at Santry Garda station.