MI5 agents set to give evidence in RIRA "sting" trial

24 October 2009
Belfast Newsletter

Thirty-five Security Service agents are to give evidence in the trial of three Co Armagh men arrested after an MI5 sting operation against the Real IRA, a court has heard.

As the trio pleaded not guilty to the charges at Belfast Crown Court On Friday, a lawyer for the prosecution revealed they have applied for a ruling that the agents can give their evidence anonymously and from behind screens.

It was also revealed that recordings of 90 hours of bugged conversations will be played at the trial, which is expected to last up to three months after its scheduled opening next April.

Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, 43, from Beech Court in Lurgan is denying a total of seven charges.

An earlier court hearing was told that the charges relate to what police believe was an international gun smuggling operation.

McCaugherty is charged with conspiring to possess firearms and explosives and using 46,000 euro in Bruges in Belgium and Amsterdam in Holland for the purposes of terrorism.

He's also accused of membership of a proscribed organisation described in court as "The Irish Republican Army".

McCaugherty is also charged with entering into an arrangement to make the deeds of a restaurant in Alvor  Portugal available for the purposes of terrorism.

Dermot Declan Gregory, 41, also known as Michael Dermot from Concession Road in Crossmaglen, faces a similar charge in relation to the Portuguese restaurant.

Desmond Paul Kearns, 44, from Tannaghmore Green in Lurgan, is charged with conspiring to possess firearms and explosives.

All the offences are alleged to have happened between May 23, 2005 and June 20, 2006.

Mr Justice Hart was told by defence lawyers that the papers in the case were "voluminous" and that the taped conversations would take months to transcribe.