Campbell charged with illegal organisation membership

The Special Criminal Court today fixed a date in July next year for the trial of the man gardaí believe is a former director of operations of the Real IRA, Liam Campbell, on a charge of membership of an illegal organisation.

Campbell (aged 40) , a married father of two, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth is charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 29, 2001.

He was one of four men arrested after Special Branch detectives swooped on a room at the Neptune Beach Hotel in Bettystown, Co Meath.

Campbell who is one of five men being sued by relatives of the victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing in a civil action, is serving a five-year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation on another occasion, in October, 2000.

The court was told then that gardaí believed Campbell was the director of operations of the Real IRA.

Last week the Criminal Assets Bureau secured a High Court judgment of over €870,000 against him for revenue offences.

Today Campbell's solicitor Mr James Mc Guill said the trial is expected to last a week. Campbell was remanded in custody for trial on July 13 next year.