Eight face charges after Garda operation

Eight men were charged tonight in connection with a Garda surveillance operation of a wooded area of Co Waterford.

At a special late-night sitting of Dublin’s Special Criminal Court six of the men were charged with IRA membership and two with possession of firearms.

They were all arrested in Knockatedaun, Ballymacarberry, Co Waterford, on Sunday afternoon and were brought to Dublin tonight.

Patrick Deery, 51, of Stradbelly, Co Waterford; Joseph Mooney, 35, of Ozzier Court, Co Waterford; John O’Halloran, 33, of Limerick; Mark McMahon, 35, of Wexford; Patrick J Kelly, 36, Wexford and Brian Galvin, 37, of Ballybeg, Co Waterford, were all charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the IRA.

Michael Leahy, 22, of Dungarven, Co Waterford and Thomas Barry, 20, of Lisduggan, Co Waterford, were both charged with possession of firearms.

The court heard that when arrested Joseph Mooney told the officer in charge: “I was training in shooting.”

All eight men were remanded in custody and will appear at the same court on the morning of Friday, August 8, for bail application.