Fourth Cork man charged with Real IRA membership

A fourth man was arrested and charged in Cork today with being a member of the Real IRA.

Jonathan O'Rourke (aged 22) of Stoneview, Blarney, Co Cork, was brought before Cork District Court for the first time today charged with being a member of the illegal organisation at Loughane, Blarney, Co Cork, on October 4 last.

He was also charged with having a repeater air pistol and ammunition.

When Detective Sergeant John Cahill arrested and charged him with having the pistol and ammunition he replied that he had been questioned and released without charge on those matters previously.

He made no reply yesterday to the charge that he was a member of the Real IRA.

O'Rourke was served with a book of evidence and on the application of Inspector Martin Dorney, Judge Con O'Leary returned the case for hearing at the Central Criminal Court.

Co-accused Alan Hickey (aged 19) of Ballygibbon, Co Cork, and Anthony Crowley (aged 19) of Stoneview, Blarney, were returned on a similar charge.

The charge against each of them states that on October 5, 2002 at Coolowen, Co Cork, they were members of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Real IRA, otherwise Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann.

A book of evidence was served today on Brian McSweeney (aged 21) of Coolowen, Blarney, Co Cork, for Real IRA membership on September 28/29, 2002 and his case was also returned for trial at the Special Criminal Court.

Michelle O'Rourke, a 21-year-old woman from Rockview Terrace, Doneraile, Co Cork, (a cousin of Jonathan O’Rourke) was returned to the Special Criminal Court for arms offences.

She is not accused of being a member of an unlawful organisation.

She is accused of having an AK47 assault rifle and a DAK pistol, both offences contrary to the Firearms Act as amended by the Offences Against the State Act between July 1 and September 29 last year.

Brian McSweeney is also charged him with having a Kalashnikov, A DAK pistol and ammunition at his home in Blarney on September 28.

Anthony Crowley is charged with having a DAK pistol hand gun for an unlawful purpose and similar charges in relation to assorted ammunition, a sawn-off shotgun an AK47 assault rifle.

It is now a matter for the Special Criminal Court to fix a date for a trial.

Bail was previously granted to the defendants.