Ms Elaine Moore (21), the Dublin woman who is facing terrorist charges in London, is expected to be released on bail later today after an administrative problem at the prison in Milton Keynes delayed her release from custody yesterday.
Ms Moore, who was granted £190,000 bail in London on Friday, was arrested last month and charged with conspiracy with three Irishmen to cause an explosion. She has also been charged with possessing explosives.
Last night Ms Moore's family said they believed her release was imminent, but the administrative delay led them to revise their predictions and they were forced to concede that she would not leave the all-male Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, outside London, until later today.
According to her family, the delay was related to the transfer of bail sureties, including £20,000 sent by the Fine Gael MEP, Ms Mary Banotti, and £50,000 raised by the former minister for foreign affairs, Mr Peter Barry, through the banking system in time for the release deadline early yesterday evening. The money was not received in time for the deadline, Ms Moore's family said.
Ms Cathy Moore said she was very disappointed that her daughter was still in custody and that she did not know the level of her mental or physical condition. "I just don't know. I know she's happy at the bail. I'm told she's OK," she said.
Ms Moore said the family welcomed the support given to her daughter, but for now she was waiting for the next telephone call from the prison authorities. "I don't know what we will do after the release. I can only just get through one day at a time," she added
Earlier a spokeswoman for Ms Banotti confirmed that £20,000 had been sent to London as part of Ms Moore's bail sureties. Mr Barry was unavailable for comment but sources indicated that once the paperwork involving the bail sureties was completed, Ms Moore would be released from custody.
It is understood that she will not be brought to the bail address at the Irish chaplaincy in Tollington Park, north London, which was suggested in court last week, but will stay at a private address in London.
The charges against Ms Moore relate to the discovery by antiterrorist police of a rucksack containing a timer and a power unit at her flat in Hampstead.
She is due in court again on August 27th. Also charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion and possession of explosives are Mr Liam Patrick Grogan (21), of Lakeland, Naas, Co Kildare, and Mr Anthony Hyland (25), of no fixed address. A charge of conspiracy to cause an explosion was preferred against Mr Darren Mulholland (19), of Meadowgrove, Dundalk, Co Louth.