Real IRA accused refused bail

Three men arrested after a Garda swoop on an alleged meeting of the Real IRA in a Co Meath hotel have been refused bail by the Special Criminal Court.

The court heard that the men were detained when detectives raided a room at the hotel in Bettystown on July 29.

Det Superintendent Peter Maguire of the Special Detective Unit told the court gardai had found a stun gun in a hold all in the room, which had been booked by a man using a false name and address.

Declan Carroll, aged 24, of Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, Dublin, Sean Mulligan aged 51, of Carnalughoge, Louth village and Robert Brennan, aged 32, of Sillogue Rd, Ballymun, Dublin, are all charged with membership of an illegal organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army.

A fourth man, Liam Campbell (32), of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, who faces the same charge, made no bail application.

All four men were remanded in custody to October 2.