Man was going 'to commit serious crime', court told

A Northern Ireland man arrested by Special Branch detectives near the border last month was a member of a dissident republican organisation on his way to commit serious crime, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney said that Cathal Loughran was the driver of a stolen Isuzu trooper jeep intercepted by detectives as it headed in the direction of the border.

The Chief Superintendent said that he believed a can of petrol found in the rear of the jeep was to be used to burn it after the commission of a serious crime either within or outside the State.

He opposed bail for Loughran and said he believed that Loughran was an active member of an illegal organisation and would continue to commit serious crime if granted bail.

Loughran was one of four men arrested after a Special Branch investigation into the activities of dissident republicans in Co Monaghan last month.

They are Garreth O' Connor, aged 23, of Bawnbrook Hill, Armagh City, Cathal Loughran, aged 26, of Friary Road, Clady, Co Armagh, Dominic Dynes, aged 30, of St Matthews Estate, Keady, Co Armagh and Aidan Grew, aged 46, of Benburb St, Blackwatertown, Co Armagh.

All four are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republic Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann , otherwise the IRA on November 8.

Opposing bail, Chief Superintendent Rooney said that gardaí investigating the activities of an illegal organisation observed Loughran driving the stolen jeep from a safe house in Co Monaghan.

The jeep was escorted by a car and both vehicles went through Monaghan town and towards the border when they were stopped by gardaí.

"I believe that the accused was on active service as a member of the IRA at the time he was driving the jeep and he was on his way to commit a serious crime either within or outside the State," he added.

The Chief Supt said that there was a warrant in existence for Loughran's arrest on a drink driving charge at the time of his arrest.

Loughran in evidence denied that he was a member of an illegal organisation. He said: "I totally deny it."

He also said there was no truth in the Chief Superintendent's evidence that he would commit further offences if granted bail.

Refusing bail, Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, said that the court accepted the evidence of Chief Superintendent Rooney that the refusal of bail was reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of serious offences. All four men have been remanded until January 29 next year.