Two arrested during investigations into dissident republican activity freed on bail

Two of the three men arrested during Garda investigations into alleged dissident republican activities in Dublin last week were freed on bail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Barry Fitzpatrick and Stephen Verhoeven were freed on bail and a third man, Dean Byrne, was remanded in custody and all three will appear in court again in early March.

Fitzpatrick (aged 66), Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, Co Dublin is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óghlaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on January 4.

Stephen Verhoeven (aged 22), Brookfield Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin is charged with the unlawful possession of two ME .38 Compact G revolvers and 20 rounds of ammunition, at Topaz garage, Tallaght bypass, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on January 4.

Dean Byrne (aged 22), Coolevin, Ballybrack, Co Dublin is charged with the unlawful possession of five ME .38 Compact G revolvers and 64 rounds of ammunition at the Ramparts, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin on January 4.

Fitzpatrick was remanded on €20,000 independent bail and Verhoeven was remanded on an independent bond of €19,300.

Both men were ordered to sign on daily at a Garda station, to surrender their passports, to observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am each night and not to associate with anyone convicted of a scheduled offence.