03 December 2010

NI Men Among Four Charged In Dublin

The men who were charged at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today in connection with the discovery of a mortar in Co Louth on Tuesday have been named as Dalton McKevitt, 35, from Dundalk and Niall Farrell, 34, also from Dundalk.

They were each charged with the unlawful possession of an improvised mortar launcher and a mortar at Commons Road, Dromiskin, Co Louth on November 30.

Both men were also each charged with membership of an illegal organisation, Oglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on the same date.

In the same court, Patrick Tierney, 25, of Drumarg Park, Armagh and Patrick Gordon, 22, also Armagh, were each charged with the unlawful possession of an explosive substance, an improvised mortar launcher and a mortar at Commons Road, Dromiskin, Co Louth on November 30.

The arrests followed a Gardaí seizure of the device and components during an investigation into dissident republican activities.

Two of the men were arrested after officers stopped a car on the M1 motorway near Dundalk on Tuesday night.

The two others were arrested during follow-up operations in Dundalk and Dromiskin.

All the men - including two who come from NI - have since been held in custody under the Offences Against the State Act.

A statement at the time said that a mortar type device was discovered in the car and as a consequence the services of an Army EOD team was requested.

The device was then rendered safe in a prolonged and difficult operation made more complex by the poor weather.

The guards said that both men detained at the scene were in their 20s, and another man in his 30s was arrested nearby.

In a follow up operation a property was searched in Drumiskin and another man in his 30s was arrested. A number of items were seized in this search and are subject to technical examination.

This operation was carried out by the Special Detective Unit assisted by local Gardaí with the car stop made by the Emergency Response Unit.

(BMcC/KMcA)