Dissidents ramp up terror

20 August 2006
Sunday Business Post

Police in the North have been bracing themselves for an upsurge in dissident republican violence following a series of bomb attacks in recent days.

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

CIRA boss 'set up weapons sting'

2 July 2006
The Sunday Life
Ciaran McGuigan

The man believed to be the leader of the Continuity IRA has been fingered as an agent who set up dissident republicans in an MI5 weapons sting.

The man, a Fermanagh-based farmer, is believed to have been one of those arrested last month by cops following up a sting operation involving British intelligence and French agents. As many as 10 people were lifted in raids last month, after it was claimed that dissidents tried to purchase heavy weaponry, including SAM 7 missiles, machine guns and long-range sniper rifles from undercover agents.

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

Gun-smuggle accused bailed

29 June 2006
The Irish News

A Co Armagh woman accused of involvement in a Real IRA gun-smuggling plot was granted High Court bail yesterday. The Crown alleges that Alison Kearns (37), from Tannaghmore Green in Lurgan, discussed weapons smuggling with an undercover agent during an operation mounted by British security staff in the summer of 2004 to target Real IRA members connected to weapons and cigarette smuggling. Appearing at the same bail hearing yesterday was co-accused Dermot Gregory (37), of Concession Road, Crossmaglen. Mr Justice McLaughlin halted the hearing on the grounds that the evidence was extremely complex but released Mrs Kearns on her own bail of £5,000.

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

Smuggling accused is given bail

29 June 2006
Belfast News Letter

A Co Armagh woman accused of being involved in a Real IRA gun smuggling plot was granted High Court bail yesterday.

Alison Kearns, a mother-of-two from Tannaghmore Green, Lurgan, appeared in court last week on a charge of inviting an unnamed person to provide weapons with the intent they be used for terrorism.

Crown lawyer Charles McKay told the court that in 2004, security staff from the UK mounted an operation using 'agents' to target members of the Real IRA connected to weapons and cigarette smuggling.

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

Intelligence sting catches alleged Real IRA's number two in arms deal

26 Jun 2006
The Herald

The alleged second-in-command of the breakaway terrorist group the Real IRA has been remanded in custody after a joint MI5, French intelligence service and Irish police operation to foil the smuggling of a consignment of weapons and explosives. Paul McCaugherty, 39, from Lurgan, Armagh, is also accused of conspiracy to possess firearms, conspiracy to murder members of the security forces in Northern Ireland and supplying cash to buy arms and ammunition. Mr McCaugherty is the fourth alleged member of the group to be charged in the last week in a major security crackdown in the border counties of Armagh and Fermanagh.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, MI5, Omagh, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Lurgan man in court on Real IRA charges

26 Jun 2006
Irish Times

A Co Armagh man appeared before magistrates in Lurgan on Saturday on charges that he plotted to kill members of the security forces and tried to procure weapons. Paul McCaugherty (39), Beech Court, Lurgan, appeared at a special sitting of Craigavon Magistrates Court.

The court was told by a detective chief inspector that Mr McCaugherty made no reply when the six charges were put to him. He was accused of being second in command of the Real IRA between December 1st, 2005, and June 19th, 2006. He was also charged with conspiring to murder members of the security forces in Northern Ireland between May 24th, 2005, and June 19th, 2006.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, MI5, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Man on Real IRA charge

26 Jun 2006
The Belfast News Letter

A 39-YEAR-OLD man appeared before magistrates on Saturday on charges that he plotted to kill members of the security forces and tried to procure weapons.

Paul McCaugherty, 39, from Beech Court in Lurgan, Co Armagh appeared at a special sitting of Craigavon Magistrates Court. The court was told by a detective chief inspector that McCaugherty made no reply when the six charges were put to him.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, MI5, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Senior Real IRA suspect in court

25 Jun 2006
The Observer
Henry McDonald

The alleged second-in-command of the Real IRA remains in custody today facing charges that he plotted to kill members of the security forces and to obtain weapons. Paul McCaugherty, 39, from Beech Court in Lurgan, appeared at a special sitting of Craigavon magistrates' court in Co Armagh yesterday. He was accused of being the deputy head of the Real IRA between 1 December 2005 and 19 June 2006.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, MI5, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

Man in dock on Real IRA charges. Court date for terror suspect

25 Jun 2006
Sunday Mirror
Paul Carson

A man believed by police to be second in command of the Real IRA appeared in court yesterday charged with terrorist offences. Paul McCaugherty, 39, appeared before magistrates on charges that he plotted to kill members of the security forces and tried to procure weapons. McCaugherty, from Beech Court in Lurgan, Co Armagh, appeared at a special sitting of Craigavon Magistrates Court. The court was told by a Detective Chief Inspector that McCaugherty made no reply when the six charges were put to him.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, MI5, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA

MI5 foil Sam missile plot

25 Jun 2006
Martin Breen
News of the World

Real IRA planned huge terror spree

The Real IRA went shopping for surface-to-air missiles to shoot down British army helicopters. The renegade republican faction also tried to buy anti-tank weapons from MI5 agents they thought were international arms dealers. Even though Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt is serving a 20- year jail term in Portlaoise Prison for directing terrorism, security sources say he was aware of the plot which was busted last week. The Real IRA's deadly plan was thwarted in a massive undercover operation involving the PSNI and MI5.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alvor, MI5, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA