Man appears in court on explosion charges

A Dundalk man appeared before the Special Criminal Court this morning charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion outside an Armagh police station last month.

David Murphy (aged 30) with an address at Ashling Park, Cox’s Demesne, Dundalk, County Louth was charged with “unlawfully and maliciously” conspiring with others to cause on explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury, contrary to the Explosives Act.

The charge relates to an incident outside Crossmaglen Police Station, in South Armagh on April 3, 2010.

Detective Garda Kieran Regan, Special Detective Unit, told the special three-judge, non-jury court today that he arrested Mr Murphy at a car park in Drogheda yesterday.

Garda Regan gave details of charging Mr Murphy at Drogheda Garda Station with the offence of conspiracy to cause an explosive with others, who were not before the court today.

A solicitor for the State asked the court, Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding, to remand the accused man in custody.

The Special Criminal Court remanded Mr Murphy in custody until Tuesday next when lawyers representing him "may" make an application for bail.