Names of 700 Republicans discovered on PC

The High Court in Belfast has heard how the names of 700 Republicans were discovered on computer equipment that was seized in a police raid on a home in Co Antrim.

The revelation was made at the bail application of the 34-year-old Shaun Alexander Leighton, from Mosside Gardens, Ballymoney, today.

The Court heard how the names were stored on a floppy disk that was protected by a password but computer experts in the RUC managed to access the information.

The disk contained information including addresses and vehicle registration numbers of 64 individuals with Republican outlooks and a list of 700 people who have been convicted of terrorist activity.

The RUC opposed the request for bail because they believed that Mr

Leighton could easily begin recreating this information if he were to be released, which would undermine RUC investigations and activities.

The accused claims he had no knowledge of what the disk contained and that it had been left in his house by a computer repair man.

Mr Justice Higgins decided to refuse the bail application because of the risk of

further offences being carried out.