Members of the British Special Air Service accused of illegally crossing the Irish border are brought to the Special Criminal court in Dublin.
Eight British Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers were apprehended at a Garda Irish Army checkpoint at Flagstaff in County Louth on the road to Omeath. The soldiers were dressed in civilian clothes and were armed.
On the night of 5/6 May 1976, the men were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. They were questioned in Dundalk and Detective Sergeant Owen Corrigan told the men that under the provision of Section 47 of the Offences Against the State act, 1939 that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that they be taken before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin where they will be charged under the provision of the Firearms Act, 1925, as amended.
Under tight security, the men are brought from Dundalk to the Green Street courthouse in Dublin for a special late night sitting of the Special Criminal Court. Both ends of Green Street are sealed off. Armed troops and police are stationed at vantage points around the city centre courtroom. Journalists and members of the public gather to watch the men's arrival.
At the hour long hearing the soldiers are charged with being in possession of guns and ammunition with the intent to endanger life and without fire arm license at Cornamucklagh in Omeath, County Louth. The men were granted bail of £5,000 each and no date is given for their trial.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 6 May 1976. This footage has natural sound only.
