A 31-year-old County Wexford electrician has been charged in the Special Criminal Court with membership of an illegal organisation. Conor McGrath from Kilellan, Castlebridge, County Wexford was charged with membership of an illegal organisation calling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann, a name used by the so-called Real IRA. The court heard that he was arrested last Friday as a result of a planned garda investigation.
He was released this morning and then re-arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act, when he was informed that he was being brought in front the Special Criminal Court. Five other people, four men and a woman, who were also detained over the weekend in garda stations in Wexford and Wicklow under the Offences against the State Act were released this morning without charge.
Chief Superintendent Michael Murphy said that he had extended McGrath's period of detention over the weekend. This he explained was necessary for the proper investigation of the offence for which he had been arrested. Chief Superintendent Michael Murphy said a lot of material had been found in searches which had to be analysed and questions needed to be put to the accused in relation to them. Mr McGrath was granted bail on his bond of £1000 and an independent surety of £5000. He must also sign on weekly at Wexford Garda station.
Gardaí now say that the arms find in Wexford this afternoon was very significant. The continuing operation against dissident Republicans uncovered an improvised grenade launcher, three handguns, assorted ammunition and three pounds of Semtex. Gardaí believe the weapons were recently hidden in the field near Castlebridge where they were found.
