A Dundalk man was amongst seven men remanded in custody in Northern Ireland earlier today charged with a series of dissident republican terrorist offences.
The men, aged between 30 and 75, appeared in Newry Magistrates’ Court after being arrest last week by police investigating the activities of the Continuity IRA.
Amongst them was Patrick Joseph Blair, 59, from Villas Park, Dundalk, who is facing a count of directing terrorism along with four other charges.
All of those arrested have been charged with membership of a proscribed organisation, while six face charges of conspiracy to possess explosives with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life and preparation for acts of terrorism.
Five of the men are also charged with directing terrorism.
The seven were arrested during a police raid on a house in Newry last Monday night.
Five other men detained in the swoop on the property in Ardcarn Park were subsequently released pending police files being sent to prosecutors for assessment.
The five men facing a count of directing terrorism along with the four other charges are Patrick Joseph Blair, 59, from Villas Park, Dundalk; Liam James Hannaway, 44, from White Rise, Dunmurry on the outskirts of Belfast; Joseph Matthew Lynch, 73, from Beechgrove Avenue, Limerick; Sean O’Neill, 75, from Quinn’s Cottages, Limerick; and Colin Patrick Winters, 43, from Ardcarn Park, Newry.
The man facing four charges is John Sheehy, 30, from Clounmacon, Listowel, Co Kerry.
Seamus Morgan, 58, from Barcroft Park, Newry, faces the solitary charge of membership of a proscribed organisation.
All stood in the dock together before a district judge amid a significant police presence inside and outside the court.
