Dissident suspects recorded by intelligence operatives

3 December 2009
Lurgan Mail

SECURITY forces recorded 190 hours of conversations involving three dissident republican suspects facing terror charges, Belfast Crown Court has heard. The three were arrested in an MI5 sting targeting alleged dissident gun smuggling from May 2005 and June 2006.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

MI5 'taped dissident conversations'

28 November 2009
Belfast Telegraph

Secret services agents recorded 190 hours of conversations involving three dissident republicans facing terror charges, Belfast Crown Court has heard.The three men were arrested as part of an MI5 sting to smash a gun smuggling operation by dissidents between May 2005 and June 2006.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Gun-running trial held up by busy spies

28 November 2009
Mirror

Prosecutors are struggling to get statements from dozens of spies involved in an alleged dissident republican plot to buy arms, it emerged yesterday.

Lawyers say some of the 33 secret agents who will play a major part in a massive criminal case next year are involved in "various duties" and pinning them down could take "some time".

The news emerged during a pre-trial hearing for three men arrested as part of an MI5 sting to smash a gun smuggling operation between May 2005 and June 2006.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alison Kearns, Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Trio deny arms smuggling role

28 November 2009
The Irish News

British secret service agents recorded 190 hours of conversations involving three dissident republicans facing terrorism charges, Belfast Crown Court heard yesterday. The three men were arrested as part of an MI5 sting to smash an alleged gun-smuggling operation between May 2005 and June 2006.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Medal and £650k or I walk: MI5 witness

28 October 2009
The Irish News
Barry McCaffrey

The chief MI5 witness in a Real IRA arms trial refused to give evidence unless he was given £650,000 and a medal from the Queen.

Paul McCaugherty (43), of Beech Court, and Desmond Kearns (44), of Tannaghmore Green, both in Lurgan, are to stand trial next year over an alleged plot to smuggle weapons from mainland Europe.

Dermot Gregory (41), also known as Michael Dermot, of Concession Road in Crossmaglen, also faces related charges.

The trio from Co Armagh were arrested after a three-year 'sting' involving an MI5 agent codenamed 'Amir'.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Amir, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

35 security agents set to appear in Real IRA trial

24 October 2009
Belfast Telegraph

Thirty-five service agents are to give evidence in the trial of three County Armagh men arrested after an MI5 sting operation against the Real IRA, a court has heard. As the trio pleaded not guilty to the charges at Belfast Crown Court yesterday, a lawyer for the prosecution revealed they have applied for a ruling that the agents can give their evidence anonymously and from behind screens.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Agents identities hidden at trial of RIRA accused

24 October 2009
The Irish News

Thirty five security service agents are to give evidence in the trial of three Co Armagh men arrested after an MI5 sting operation against the Real IRA, a court heard yesterday. As the trio pleaded not guilty to the charges at Belfast Crown Court, a prosecuting lawyer revealed they have applied for a ruling that the agents can give their evidence anonymously, behind screens.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

MI5 testimony in terrorism case

24 October 2009
The Guardian
Henry McDonald

Thirty-five MI5 officers are to be called to give evidence against three Northern Irish men accused of dissident republican terrorism. The officers will be allowed to give their evidence behind screens, Belfast crown court heard yesterday.

The court heard that the security forces had amassed 90 hours of bugged conversations involving the accused.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

MI5 agents set to give evidence in RIRA "sting" trial

24 October 2009
Belfast Newsletter

Thirty-five Security Service agents are to give evidence in the trial of three Co Armagh men arrested after an MI5 sting operation against the Real IRA, a court has heard.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

MI5 agents to testify behind screens in Real IRA trial

23 October 2009
Guardian Unlimited
Henry McDonald
MI5 officers called to give evidence against three men accused of involvement in dissident republican terrorism

Thirty-five MI5 officers are to be called to court to give evidence against three Northern Irish men accused of dissident republican terrorism. The spies will be allowed to give their evidence behind screens to protect their identities, Belfast crown court heard today. The court heard that the security forces had amassed 90 hours of bugged conversations of the accused.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Dozens of MI5 agents to testify in Real IRA trial

23 October 2009
Intelligence News
Ian Allen

Over 30 agents of MI5, Britain’s primary domestic intelligence agency, will be anonymously giving evidence at a scheduled trial of three men arrested in connection with a Real IRA international gun smuggling operation.

The men, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Dermot Declan Gregory, and Desmond Paul Kearns, all from County Armagh in Northern Ireland, were arrested after a yearlong infiltration operation by MI5, involving the use of informants and surveillance equipment.

The latter resulted in nearly 90 hours of recorded conversations, which the court said will take “months to transcribe”. Additionally, 35 MI5 agents have so far applied to give evidence in court, their identity concealed behind screens.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, Informer, MI5, Michael Dermot, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Spies testify on 'Real IRA sting'

23 October 2009
BBC News

Thirty five MI5 officers are to give evidence against three County Armagh men arrested after an operation against the Real IRA, a court has heard.

The trio pleaded not guilty at Belfast Crown Court to the charges, linked to what police believe was an international gun-smuggling operation.

The officers have applied to give evidence anonymously behind screens.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Michael Dermot, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Two men quizzed in Irish murder

26 September 2009
The Portugal News Online

Police confirmed last Thursday that two men, aged 19 and 26 had been arrested in Lagos (about 20 kilometres from Alvor) by Portuguese detectives in connection with the murder of Irishman Paul Houston. The two men are believed to have been preparing to travel by bus to Lisbon before flying to Brazil. Their nationalities have not been confirmed, though indications are they are Brazilian nationals. According to police, 15 detectives have been working day and night to track down the suspects.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Donegal, MI5, Portugal

Two in court over death of Irish tourist

17 September 2009
Herald
Tom Worden

TWO men appeared in court yesterday over the death of Irish businessman Paul Houston in Portugal. Police arrested the men, aged 19 and 26, on suspicion of homicide and robbery on Wednesday. Mr Houston (51) was attacked as he made his way home from a bar in the seaside town of Alvor on the Algarve. The father-of-four, who was on holiday with his wife and two friends, was found in a pool of blood with severe head wounds in the early hours of Sunday, September 6. The Judicial Police launched a manhunt which ended with the arrest of the two men, who are thought to be Brazilian.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Donegal, MI5, Panda Restaurant, Portugal

Murder probe into Algarve death of businessman

8 Sept. 2009
Herald

A murder investigation is now under way in Portugal following the death of a Derry businessman in the Algarve yesterday. Paul Houston (51) had been on a golfing holiday with his wife and friends in the village of Alvor. His body was found lying in the street at around 5am yesterday. Mr Houston ran a designer shoe store in Derry. It is thought he had been beaten to death in what may have been an attempted robbery and police are awaiting the results of a post mortem.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Donegal, MI5, Portugal

MI5 agent forced to give evidence

26 June 2009
The Irish News
Barry McCaffrey

A MI5 agent will be arrested and forced to appear in court if he refuses to give evidence at the trial of two Co Armagh men accused of Real IRA weapons-smuggling, Belfast Magistrates Court heard yesterday. Lurgan men Desmond Kearns (44) and Paul Anthony McCaugherty (43) are due to go on trial later this year in connection with an alleged plot to ship arms to the north from mainland Europe between May 2005 and June 2006. They were arrested after a three-year MI5 'sting' involving two undercover agents codenamed 'Amir' and 'Ali'.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alison Kearns, Alvor, Amir, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, MI5, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

He'd been to Maddy resort: Cops want to trace his van

25 May 2009
Daily Mirror
Ryan Parry and Stephen Moyes


The couple who raised the alarm about paedophile Ray Hewlett told yesterday how detectives who interviewed them asked: "Do you still have his mobile number."

Alan and Cindy Thompson were questioned for three hours at the weekend by officers from Leicestershire Police's Madeleine McCann task force. Cindy, who handed over the foreign number, said yesterday: "The detective who interviewed me asked for Ray's number. He didn't say what they'll do with it, I just hope it helps in some way."

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, Madeleine McCann, MI5, Portugal, Real IRA