Omagh suspect’s brother in court over Lithuania Real IRA arms case
A brother of one of the men blamed for the Omagh bomb atrocity has appeared in court in Lithuania accused of running a Real IRA arms deal.
Michael Campbell was arrested in an undercover operation in the Baltic state after handing over €10,000 (£8,600) to arm the dissident group with guns and explosives.
Lithuanian prosecutors allege Campbell was detained in an international sting operation after he attempted to negotiate a deal for guns, ammunition and bomb-making materials for the republican terror group.
He faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
The court in Vilnius city was due to begin hearing evidence, with Campbell given the opportunity to put forward his defence.
Opening statements were read last August.
Secret service and undercover agents who led the sting were due to give the prosecution case behind closed doors.
The defendant is the brother of Liam Campbell, who was successfully sued by the relatives of the Omagh victims for the 1998 bomb attack which killed 29 people.
The pair are from the Upper Faughart area near Dundalk, Co Louth, close to the border with Northern Ireland.
Michael Campbell is charged with supporting a terrorist group by attempting to smuggle firearms, ammunition, and explosive devices from Lithuania to Ireland.
He was arrested in January last year following the operation involving British, Irish and Lithuanian intelligence agencies.
Campbell, who has been in custody in Lithuania since his arrest, has not yet entered a plea.
