A man facing terrorism charges has appeared before a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court after breaching his bail terms.

In the midst of trying to establish how the breaches came about, District Judge Barney McElholm rounded on G4S who operate the electronic tagging system for failing to provide specific information to the court.

Gabriel Paul Meehan (42), from Pound Street, Irvinestown, but bailed to James Street, Omagh, is charged with having a shotgun, ammunition, two mobile phones, and details of a British Army captain’s vehicle.

The allegations relate to shots fired at Enniskillen PSNI Station on March 17, 2021.

The CIRA claimed responsibility, saying: “On direction of the [CIRA] army council, volunteers fired high-velocity rounds from an improvised explosive device.”

Examination of Meehan’s phone revealed communication with two other suspects.

While initially released from custody at Enniskillen Magistrates Court to an approved address, this affected the householder’s benefit entitlement and Meehan had to leave.

Temporary accommodation was sought and an urgent bail variation on March 8 heard there may be several short-term placements until a permanent address is found.

Within days, Meehan was arrested, as police agreed to temporary accommodation but not hostels.

A detective constable stated: “We don’t know who’s in these hostels, or who the defendant is associating with.”

Despite objections, Meehan was re-admitted to bail, as the judge on that occasion was not content with how the matter was handled.

However, he was arrested again on April 15 after G4S alerted police that his electronic tag had activated.

At the special sitting, the detective explained Meehan is subject to a curfew from 11pm to 8am, but he wasn’t there when police attended shortly before midnight.

While he did present himself when officers returned after 2am, he was heavily intoxicated, and with three others in a similar condition.

Judge McElholm enquired if G4S knew what time Meehan returned, and when that wasn’t known, he remarked: “On countless previous occasions I have pointed out the absolute uselessness if information is not provided.

"What is important is not a random time of a person not being there, but when he returns.”

A defence solicitor said Meehan accepted being late home, but it was less than an hour, to which Judge McElholm replied: “Well, he would say that. Unfortunately G4S – despite being told on a number of occasions – don’t feel the need to supply that information.

"Maybe the contract should be given to somebody else who will do so. It’s a single, simple piece of information. They only have to look up their own computer.”

He declined to revoke bail “for that reason alone”, but added another condition banning alcohol, and ordered Meehan's phone to be confiscated.

Judge McElholm concluded: “This is a final warning, and I want that noted by all concerned.”

The case will be mentioned again at Enniskillen Magistrates Court later this month.