Cork man charged with IRA membership and explosive possession

A 52-year-old man from Cork has been charged at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin with membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of an explosive substance. Martin McHale, of Blackwater Grove, Togher, was charged with IRA membership on November 1st, 2013. He was additionally charged with possessing ten sealed bags containing ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate at Mall Road, Tirkeenan, Monaghan on the same date. Detective Sergeant Gabriel Bell told the three-judge court that Mr McHale was arrested this morning under the Offences Against the State Act. The defendant made no reply when cautioned or when shown the charge sheet. Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded Mr McHale in custody pending a bail application hearing scheduled for Thursday.