A porter alleged to have been at the heart of an IRA spying operation inside the Northern Ireland Office has been released on bail.
William Mackessy, 44, of Wolfend Way, Ligoniel, North Belfast, was before the court via a video link with Maghaberry Prison.
He is charged with possesing documents which could be useful to terrorists and making a record of details concerning army personnel.
British crown lawyer David Hopley said on October 4 a number of searches were carried out by police, including one at the defendant's home. Another search was at the home of a co-accused Denis Donaldson, Sinn Féin's head of administration at Stormont, whose offices were also raided.
Mr Hopley said the documents found in Donaldson's home consisted of 100 pages many of which originated from within the NIO at Castle Buildings, Stormont, where MacKessy worked as a porter from April, 2000, until September, 2001.
He said when MacKessy was arrested and questioned he refused to answer.
He said it was believed MacKessy would turn up for his trial, was unlikely to commit further offences but there was risk he might interfere with witnesses by pressurising officials into not giving evidence or assisting police inquiries.
Mr Hopley said MacKessy's fingerprints had not been found on any of the documents which suggested to police that the documents provided by him had been copied.
Barry MacDonald, QC, said MacKessy had a completely clear record and was vetted positively before taking the job 10 years ago.
Mr MacDonald described the Crown's objections to bail as "quite weak" and pointed out that another co-accused Fiona Farrelly had already been released on bail.
Disputing any suggestion that the documents may be in the hands of the IRA, Mr MacDonald said: "As far as I am aware the IRA has not attacked either the police or army for eight years."
Lord Justice Nicholson: "That doesn't stop them doing it tomorrow."
The judge told MacKessy the charges he faced were very grave and his refusal to answer police questions certainly did not help him.
However, as the risk of absconding or committing further offences did not appear to apply he was prepared to grant bail.
MacKessy was freed on his own bail of £1,000 with two sureties of £1,000 each and ordered not to associate with his three co-accused, Donaldson, Farrelly and Ciaran Kearney.
He was also ordered to stay away from the Stormont estate and not associate with people working in Castle Buildings. .