Distretto Nord

A processo tre uomini arrestati da MI5 nel 2006

Suspected dissidents go on trial

Three Co Armagh men arrested following a two-year operation directed by “role playing officers from the Sercurity Services” on Wednesday went on trial in Belfast.

MI5Whilst no direct reference as to which branch of the ‘Security Services’ was involved, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hart was told at an earlier hearing the case involved an MI5 sting operation against the Real IRA.

Between them the trio, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty (43) from Beech Court, Desmond Paul Kearns (44) from Tannaghmore Green, both Lurgan, and 41-year-old Dermot Declan Gregory aka Michael Dermot from Concession Road in Crossmaglen, deny a total of seven charges.

McCaughey faces all seven charges: conspiring to possess firearms and explosives and using almost 46,000 euro for terrorist purposes, membership of “The Irish Republican Army”, and making the deeds of a Portuguese restaurant available for the purposes of terrorism.

Kearns is accused with him of conspiring to possess firearms and explosives, while Gregory is accused of making the deeds of the Alvor restaurant in Portugal available for the purposes of terrorism.

During his hour-long opening prosecuting QC Gordon Kerr said the operation began in August 2004 and ended with the arrest of the trio in June 2006.

The operation, which the court previously heard related to what police believe was an international gun smuggling operation, involved numerous meeting throughout Europe and even Istanbul in Turkey.

Various conversations during the multitude of meetings were secretly taped and in some cases even videoed.

Again at an earlier hearing Mr Justice Hart was told that there were 90 hours of bugged conversations.

The trial expected to last up to five weeks, continues.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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