IRA relative in court over Newry bomb
Ciaran Farrell, a brother of IRA member Mairead Farrell who was shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar more than 20 years ago, has appeared in Newry Magistrates’ Court over a bomb attack on the city courthouse in February.
Farrell, who was arrested in Dunmurry in greater Belfast on Monday, has been charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause damage to property.
In court, the 51-year-old man from Killeaton Park in Dunmurry spoke only to confirm his date of birth and that he understood the charges against him.
A police detective said there was “strong circumstantial” evidence linking the defendant to the bombing.
A lawyer for the Public Prosecution Service said: “This accused is a member of a dissident republican organisation, in particular the police view, and the Crown view concurs, that it is the Real IRA.”
He said that, even if Farrell was not a formal member, he was clearly sympathetic to the organisation.
He told magistrate that, if she allowed the accused out on bail, there was a risk to the public.
“We feel that he will then associate with dissident republicans and there’s a high risk that he will re-offend and commit similar offences,” he said.
The married father-of-two is accused of unlawfully and maliciously planting the car bomb in a manner likely to endanger life or damage property.
The PPS lawyer said that if convicted the defendant faced a considerable period in jail.
Farrell, who is married to an American, travels often to the US and the prosecution said that heightened their fear that he could flee.
The lawyer also said he had associated with another person wanted by police in connection with the bombing.
His solicitor said he emphatically denied the charges.
“There is no direct tangible evidence that connects the defendant directly to this bomb,” he said.
“The thrust really of the prosecution case is based on circumstantial evidence which, of course, the defendant denies.
“Although there is innuendo and suggestion that he is a member of an organisation, that is emphatically denied.”
Farrell was remanded in custody to reappear at the same court via video link on 23 June.
His sister, Mairead Farrell, was one of the IRA’s so-called Gibraltar Three who were shot dead by the SAS in controversial circumstances in the British territory in March 1988.
