'Real IRA second in command' in court

24 June 2006
Press Association
Dan McGinn

A 39-year-old man appeared before magistrates today in Northern Ireland on charges that he plotted to kill members of the security forces and tried to procure weapons.

Paul McCaugherty, 39, from Beech Court in Lurgan, County Armagh appeared at a special sitting of Craigavon Magistrates Court.

The court was told by a Detective Chief Inspector that Mr McCaugherty made no reply when the six charges were put to him.

He was accused of being second in command of the Real IRA between December 1 2005 and June 19 2006.

Her was also charged with conspiring with a person or persons unknown to murder members of the security forces in Northern Ireland between May 24 2005 and June 19 2006.

Mr McCaugherty faced a third charge of conspiracy to possess firearms between those dates with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

These were identified as AK47 assault rifles, sniper rifles, heavy machine guns, pistols, pistol silencers and assorted ammunition.

He was also charged with conspiracy to possess explosives with intent to endanger life or damage property between May 24 2005 and June 19 2006.

The explosives were SAM7 surface to air missiles, 100kg of plastic explosives namely semtex and C4, vehicle booby trap devices, disposable rocket propelled grenades, grenade launches, detonators, detonator cords and anti-tank armour piercing weapons.

He was accused of receiving 46,000 euros and the deeds of a commercial property in Portugal between May 24 2005 and June 13 2006, intending that it should be used or having reasonable cause to suspect that the money and property would be used for the purposes of terrorism.

The final charge he faced was arranging for the money and property to be made available between May 24 2005 and June 13 2006 to another person who knew or had reasonable cause to suspect that such assets would be used or could be used for the purposes of terrorism.

The court was told by the Detective Chief Inspector that he believed he could link the accused to the charges.

Throughout the hearing Mr McCaugherty, who was dressed in a white shirt, said nothing.

He did, however, give a thumbs up sign to supporters in the public gallery during the proceedings.

He was remanded in custody to appear by video link at Craigavon Magistrates Court on July 20.

He is the fourth person to be charged in connection with a major security operation in counties Armagh and Fermanagh on Monday.