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