Monaghan man charged with possession of explosives case

A Co Monaghan man already serving a prison sentence for possession of firearms was today charged with a new offence of having explosives in the North in 2010.

Paul Maguire (aged 26) of Drumleek South, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan was charged with possession of an improvised explosive device with intent to endanger life or to cause serious damage to property at Culloville, Co Armagh on April 3, 2010.

The charge was brought under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act of 1976 which allows suspects to be charged in the Republic or the North with offences committed in either jurisdiction.

Maguire was sentenced to five years imprisonment in March by the Special Criminal Court after he pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun and two shotgun cartridges in Dundalk, Co Louth on August 8, 2010.

The court suspended the final three-and-a-half years of the sentence.

Today, Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, Special Detective Unit, gave evidence of meeting Maguire in the precincts of the court and telling him that on the directions of the DPP he would be charged at the Special Criminal Court.

He said that Maguire made no reply after caution.

The court remanded Maguire in custody until July 19.