Courts / Louth / Report
Two Louth men charged before Special Criminal Court
Summary
Two men from Louth, aged 42 and 49, were brought before the Special Criminal Court on 18 December 2014. Michael Connolly of Dundalk was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Brian Fitzpatrick of Dundalk was charged with two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances, alleged to be two complete improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Both men were arrested on 16 December at the same car park outside Drogheda Garda Station. Connolly denied membership of the IRA when cautioned, and Fitzpatrick denied possession of explosives. Garda Colm Finnerty and Detective Garda Niall Armstrong gave evidence of the arrests, charges and cautions. The court granted an order to preserve any external CCTV footage from Drogheda Garda Station and remanded both men in custody until Tuesday, when Connolly will apply for bail and legal aid.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Two Louth men charged before Special Criminal Court. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on December 16th last; two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances on the same day at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- December 16th Incident
- 2014-12-18 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances on the same day at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: They remanded both men in custody until Tuesday, when Mr Connolly will apply for bail and legal aid.
Accused
Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on December 16th last; two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances on the same day at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: They remanded both men in custody until Tuesday, when Mr Connolly will apply for bail and legal aid.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Grange Drive
- Dundalk
- car park outside Drogheda Garda Station
- Drogheda
- CCTV footage from Drogheda Garda Station
Topics
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