A woman charged over an MI5 spying operation against the New IRA leadership failed in a bid to have her electronic tag removed to go shopping for a wedding dress with her daughter.According to a prosecution barrister, Amanda Duffy is awaiting trial on “serious terrorist charges’’ that arose out of Operation Arbacia, an undercover PSNI/MI5 surveillance operation targeting meetings of senior New IRA figures.The 55-year-old, of Ailsbury Gardens in Lurgan, Co Armagh, has been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, professing to belong to a terrorist organisation and possessing articles for use in terrorism.Duffy, also known as Amanda McCabe, is further charged with two counts of conspiracy to direct terrorism and two of preparation of terrorist acts.The offences are alleged to have been committed on dates between February 8th and August 19th, 2020, when MI5 planted video recording equipment and listening devices in two rented houses in Co Tyrone where the New IRA leadership held meetings of its army council and army executive.Duffy was one of 10 people subsequently charged over Operation Arbacia and she spent more than three years on remand until she was granted High Court bail in October 2023 under stringent conditions along with a cash surety totalling £27,000.She applied at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday through her legal team to vary her bail conditions for the removal of a G4S electronic tag fitted to her ankle.A prosecution barrister told Judge Gordon Kerr that the variation was opposed by the Crown.“This lady is facing very serious terrorist charges. She spent a period of time in custody and was released from custody on the basis of strict bail conditions and police say nothing has changed that would remove the tag,” said the prosecution lawyer.“The trial is expected to take place in 2027.“The reason put forward for the removal of the tag is primarily that this lady’s daughter is getting married and suffers some embarrassment when attending bridal boutiques.“We say that is unfortunate and it is not a proper reason for the removal of the tag.“Police would consider a specific application if it were made for a particular day at a particular time for it to be removed to allow her to visit bridal boutiques and [have it] reinstated thereafter.“The concern would be that it is not appropriate in this case and, secondly, it would set a precedent for a number of co-accused who are also electronically tagged.’’Defence solicitor Darragh Mackin said Duffy was a grandmother whose daughter was getting married this December.Asked by the judge whether the wedding dress had been bought yet, Mackin replied: “No, it hasn’t.’’He added: “This is an important day in her life to see her daughter getting married. It is not just about the wedding day, it is about the wedding dress rehearsals and shopping for other items.“The position is that she is literally going into a wedding shop and the embarrassment it causes her wearing the tag, which is quite a large device.“Miss Duffy just wants to attend wedding dress shops without the embarrassment it causes.’’Mackin told the court there had been no breaches of Duffy’s bail conditions and there had been no further offending.“She is just seeking a limited removal of the tag to allow her to attend wedding boutiques and the wedding day, which is a life event.’’The judge said he would not generally allow the application for the removal of the electronic tag.“However, as has been suggested, if she puts together a programme to the police about occasions of particular events and functions she wishes to attend, then I will allow the removal of the tag.