Teen charged with RIRA membership

A 17-year-old has been charged with membership of the Real IRA.

He was among five people arrested in Co Tyrone on Thursday by police investigating threats by dissident republicans against Catholic members of local policing partnerships.

The others have now been released but the 17-year-old faces charges of possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence, and possession of articles for use in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of violence.

He will appear before a special sitting of Omagh Magistrates Court this morning.

A third member of the Down District Policing partnerships, Moya Burns, has now quit because of the campaign of threats, although she is not thought to have been threatened.