AN American student spent nine days in custody after befriending "lone wolf" dissident republican Christine Connor, who posed online as a Swedish supermodel in a bid to entice accomplices.

Zach Gevelinger was arrested by police after he travelled to Ireland in June 2013 to visit Connor in Hydebank women's prison where she was on remand accused of trying to kill two police officers in a pipe-bomb attack.

Connor (31) will be sentenced on June 20 after pleading guilty to six paramilitary related offences including the attempted murder of police officers.

A co-accused, 31-year-old Stuart Downes from Shrewsbury in England took his own life last year before his case came to court.

An inquest into his death concluded the fear of a lengthy prison sentence had impacted on his mental health.

Detectives charged Downes with aiding and abetting in the plot to kill police officers.

Blonde fashion blogger Sanne Andersson's pictures were used by Christine Connor without her knowledge.

Police said that Connor "used a web of deceit" to enlist Downes. Officers confirmed the 31-year-old from north Belfast used a fictitious name and profile picture that “bore no resemblance to her” to entice her suspected accomplice.

At a previous court hearing police said Connor had convinced Downes "a person with no previous terrorist links or even republican sympathies, to become involved in this case."

Downes is thought to have researched and acquired component parts, tested an explosive mixture and made an anonymous phone call to establish a code-word.

While on bail Downes received a bullet in the post, which was thought to have been sent to deter him from giving evidence against Connor.

He disappeared from his home in Meole Brace, on June 18 last year while out on bail. His family launched an online campaign to try and locate him but his body was found in a nearby wooded area almost a week later.

In October, Shropshire coroner John Ellery said the "possible outcome of the criminal proceedings had been weighing heavily" on his mind.

Downes was not the only man to strike up a friendship with Connor from her fake online profile.

In July 2013, Zach Gevelinger was arrested as he left Hydebank Wood after visiting the 31-year-old who was on remand at the time.

Mr Gevelinger, who also had no previous links to Irish republicanism, but is a regular contributor to Communist Party publications and member of the American Socialist Party, had been in regular online contact with Connor before flying to Dublin from his home in Wisconsin in the US.

He got the train to Belfast and went straight to Hydebank, where Connor had arranged a visit through a relative.

On leaving the hour long visit he was arrested by police in the prison car park and taken Antrim Serious Crime suite for questioning about paramilitary activity.

Mr Gevelinger was held for nine days, under anti terror legislation, that allows the PSNI to keep suspects for up to 28 days without charge.

His laptop computer and clothing were seized before he was released and a file sent to the Public Prosecution Service.

Hours after being released he was admitted to the hospital suffering a panic attack and flew back to the US the following day.

Writing about his arrest on a Socialist Party publication he said he was questioned in connection with "IRA membership and providing material support for terrorism".

"This traumatic experience reinforced my outlook on the Irish liberation struggle and the struggle to support all imprisoned people.

"Only an Ireland free of British imperialism and European Union economic colonialism can truly be independent," he said.

Mr Gevelinger, who has since married, has not returned to Ireland and remains on the FBI no fly list.