After many tense hours of delay yesterday, Ms Elaine Moore (21), the Dublin woman facing charges related to a bomb plot in London last month, was released on bail. Her mother said she was "100 per cent certain" her daughter would clear her name. Ms Moore, who faces charges of conspiracy to cause an explosion and having explosives, had been ready for her release from Woodhill Prison, Buckinghamshire, since yesterday morning.
But an administrative problem relating to the receipt of £190,000 in bail securities and sureties - which included £20,000 pledged by the Fine Gael MEP, Ms Mary Banotti and £50,000 from the former foreign minister, Mr Peter Barry - delayed her release until 4.15 p.m.
Her mother, Ms Cathy Moore, arrived at the prison gates shortly after 4 p.m. accompanied by her partner and another man. She spoke of her relief that her daughter would soon be freed on bail.
"We are delighted that this part of the ordeal is over," she said. "I will never be able to thank you, the media, enough and all the supporters back home in Ireland for the support that they have given us throughout this ordeal."
When asked about comments by Garda sources that her daughter would face a tough battle in court to clear her name and could spend 20 years in prison if convicted, Ms Moore was adamant this would not prove to be the case.
"I am 100 per cent certain that Elaine will clear her name. I know about the circumstances surrounding her arrest . . . We are in no doubt the court will see fit to free her. We are certainly hoping the charges will be dropped before it comes to trial. We have just got to keep our fingers crossed."
When Ms Elaine Moore emerged, she and her mother hugged and then posed briefly for the waiting camera crew.
Ms Moore, who moved to London from her home in Coolock in March, was arrested following a search of her home in Hampstead, north London, on July 10th. A small quantity of Semtex explosives was found at her home as well as a rucksack containing a timer and power unit.