Courts / Louth / Report

Louth man charged with IRA membership and firearms offences

Date
2015-12-20

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dundalk

County
Louth

Summary

A 35‑year‑old Louth man, Owen McCann, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a Sunday hearing. He was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation, and with two counts of possessing firearms, including a rifle, a pistol conversion kit and ammunition. McCann was arrested on 18 December 2015 by the Special Detective Unit in Dundalk as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He was taken to Dundalk Garda Station, given his rights and then brought to the court. Wearing a navy jumper, he stood when the charge was read. Counsel Conan Fegan applied for legal aid and a bail application was scheduled for the following Tuesday at 10 a.m. The presiding judge remanded McCann in custody until that hearing. The case is still pending at the time of the report.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Louth man charged with IRA membership and firearms offences. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on December 18, 2015. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

December 18, 2015 Incident
December 17, 2015 Incident
2015-12-20 Publication

Case subjects

Owen McCann

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on December 18, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded Mr McCann in custody until Tuesday morning, when his bail application would be dealt with.