RIRA plot to kill general

4 July 2010
The Sunday Life
Ciaran Barnes

The REAL IRA wanted to pay a Balkan hitman to murder a top British army general responsible for operations in Bosnia.

The plan to kill Sir Michael Rose -- which could come straight from the pages of a spy novel -- was the brainchild of Lurgan terror boss Paul McCaugherty.

Continue Reading... Labels: Alison Kearns, Alvor, Amir, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Paul Kearns, Entrapment, MI5, Oglaigh na hEireann, Omagh, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA, Seamus McKenna

How an MI5 'weapons dealer' tricked a Real IRA leader

2 July 2010
BBC
Conor Spackman

It was a case which could have come straight from the pages of a spy novel - but in fact it was a deadly real-life narrative. A self-proclaimed leader of the Real IRA attending exotic meetings across Europe, plotting to secure the sophisticated weaponry which would be used to target the British commander of UN forces in Bosnia as well as police officers in Northern Ireland. In fact Paul McCaugherty had been enmeshed in what a judge described as "an elaborate and successful hoax", which ended in his conviction on a plethora of terrorist charges on Wednesday.

Continue Reading... Labels: Ali, Alvor, Amir, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Entrapment, MI5, Omagh, Orlando Pownall, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA, Seamus McKenna

He said the Real IRA had been scheming... and the arms deal would be the icing on the cake

1 July 2010
Belfast Telegraph

FOR two years he travelled to cities across Europe, plotting a deadly gunsmuggling operation designed to bring terror to the streets of Northern Ireland.

But Real IRA boss Paul McCaugherty's plans had one fatal flaw. His misplaced trust in a man he believed to be an arms dealer -- but who was actually a covert MI5 agent -- who blew the lid on the smuggling plot.

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

Real IRA chief caught in M15 weapons sting

1 July 2010
The Daily Telegraph
Gordon Rayner

A REAL IRA commander has been convicted of trying to smuggle weapons and explosives into Northern Ireland after being snared by a MI5 sting operation.

Paul McCaugherty, 43, was caught trying to buy an arsenal of weapons from an agent posing as a Middle Eastern arms dealer.

The security service agent, known as Ali, spent two years meeting McCaugherty and bugging 90 hours of conversations, which became the cornerstone of the prosecution's case at Belfast Crown Court.

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

Dissident republican (43) guilty of smuggling plot

1 July 2010 
The Irish News

A leading dissident republican duped by an MI5 agent posing as an arms dealer was found guilty yesterday of trying to smuggle a huge cache of weapons and explosives into Northern Ireland.

Paul McCaugherty (43) from Lurgan, Co Armagh, had no idea the arsenal he agreed to buy for more than EUR100,000 did not exist and he was instead being targeted by the security services in a two-year undercover sting operation.

Continue Reading... Labels: Ali, Amir, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, Entrapment, MI5, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Real IRA

Man tried to smuggle weapons into NI

30 June 2010
RTE News

A leading dissident republican duped by an MI5 agent posing as an arms dealer was found guilty today of trying to smuggle a huge cache of weapons and explosives into Northern Ireland.

Paul McCaugherty, 43, from Beech Court, Lurgan, Co Armagh, had no idea the arsenal he agreed to buy for more than €100,000 did not exist and he was instead being targeted by the Security Services in a two-year undercover sting operation.

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

Gun accused freed over entrapment

19 June 2010
Irish Times

AN ARMAGH man accused of a gun smuggling plot walked free from court yesterday after the prosecution decided not to appeal a judge’s decision to stop the case.

Prosecution lawyer David McDowell told Mr Justice Hart in Belfast Crown Court that “we do not intend to appeal your Lordship’s ruling yesterday so the defendant can be discharged”.

Following an abuse-of-process application from defence QC Orlando Pownall on behalf of Desmond Kearns (44), Mr Justice Hart ruled an MI5 agent known as “Amir” had overstepped the mark to enter the area of entrapment.

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

Real IRA suspect caught in MI5 sting freed by judge

19 June 2010
The Guardian
Henry McDonald
Ruling that agent illegally entrapped defendant Blow to operation against alleged arms smuggling

An operation against an alleged Real IRA arms smuggling network suffered a blow yesterday after a judge ruled that MI5 had illegally entrapped one of the accused in a sting involving an undercover agent.

The case against Desmond Kearns, 44, at Belfast crown court was stopped by the judge, who decided that an MI5 agent known as Amir had tried to trap him.

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

MI5 agent blamed for trial failure

19 June 2010
Mirror


RELEASED

A MAN accused of a gun smuggling plot walked free from court yesterday after the prosecution decided not to appeal a judge's decision to stop the case.

Following an application on behalf of 44-year-old Desmond Kearns from Lurgan, Co Armagh, Mr Justice Hart sitting in the Diplock, no jury court, ruled that an MI5 agent known only as 'Amir' had gone into the area of entrapment.

The judge said that given the evidence of two meetings between Amir and Kearns in particular, the Lurgan man acted in the way he did because he had been 'entrapped" during the operation against the Real IRA.

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

No challenge over decision to free arms plot

19 June 2010
Belfast Telegraph
Paul Higgins

A man who had been accused of a gun smuggling plot walked free from court yesterday after the prosecution decided not to appeal a judge's decision to stop the case.

Prosecution lawyer David McDowell told Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hart: "We do not intend to appeal your Lordship's ruling yesterday so the defendant can be discharged."

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

Real IRA suspect caught in MI5 sting freed by judge

18 June 2010
Guardian
Henry McDonald
Arms smuggling case against Desmond Kearns collapses after judge rules he was illegally entrapped by MI5 agent

An operation against an alleged Real IRA arms smuggling network suffered a blow today after a judge ruled that MI5 had illegally entrapped one of the accused in a sting involving an undercover agent.

The case against Desmond Kearns, 44, at Belfast crown court was stopped by the judge, who decided that an MI5 agent known as Amir had tried to trap him.

Kearns, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, had been charged alongside two others with attempting to smuggle arms and explosive for an alleged Real IRA operation.

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

Judge halts arms plot trial over MI5 entrapment

18 June 2010
Belfast Telegraph

A MAN arrested in an MI5 sting against dissident Republicans could be freed if the prosecution does not contest a judge's ruling that a Secret Service agent over-stepped the mark.

Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hart yesterday agreed to a defence application on behalf of Desmond Paul Kearns (44) that his trial be stopped because he'd been 'entrapped' by the agent known only as 'Amir'.

But the judge in the Diplock trial refused a similar application on behalf of one of Kearns' co-accused Paul Anthony John McCaugherty (43). He was said to have tried to negotiate with another agent called 'Ali'.

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

Gun smuggling accused walks free

18 June 2010
 UTV News
A Co. Armagh man who had been accused of a gun smuggling plot walked free from court on Friday after the prosecution decided not to appeal a judge's decision to stop the case.

Prosecution lawyer David McDowell told Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hart "we do not intend to appeal your Lordship's ruling ...so the defendant can be discharged".

Following an abuse of process application from defence QC Orlando Pownall on behalf of 44-year-old Desmond Kearns, Diplock, no jury judge Mr Justice Hart ruled that a secret service MI5 agent known only as 'Amir' had over-stepped the mark and gone into the area of entrapment.

In his ruling the judge said that having reviewed the evidence "the edifice of the prosecution case now rests on inadequate foundations and therefore that edifice cannot stand".

Continue Reading... Labels: Ali, Alvor, Amir, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, Entrapment, MI5, Orlando Pownall, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA, Teresa Murphy

Real IRA plot accused entrapped by MI5 rules judge

18 June 2010
BBC News

Court

A man accused of smuggling guns for the Real IRA has walked free from court after a judge ruled he had been wrongfully entrapped in an MI5 'sting'.

The case against Desmond Kearns, 44, from Tannaghmore Green, Lurgan, collapsed on Friday.

He had been charged with attempting to smuggle arms and explosives from Europe in an alleged Real IRA arms operation.

But the case was stopped when a judge ruled that an MI5 agent, known only as Amir had "entrapped" him.

Continue Reading... Labels: Ali, Alvor, Amir, Dermot Declan Gregory, Dermot Gregory, Desmond Kearns, Desmond Paul Kearns, Entrapment, MI5, Panda Restaurant, Paul Anthony John McCaugherty, Paul McCaugherty, Portugal, Real IRA, Therese Murphy

Arms plot trial ruling adjourned

16 June 2010
Mirror

A JUDGE yesterday adjourned a decision on whether MI5 overstepped the mark in an arms plot sting against dissident Republicans.

Lawyers for two of three Co Armagh men facing charges arising out of the action against the Real IRA, claim they were "entrapped" and it would be an "abuse of process" to continue with the Belfast Crown Court trial.

Diplock judge Mr Justice Hart, trying the case alone, said he hoped to give his ruling within a few days, if not by the start of next week.

Paul McCaugherty, 43, of Beech Court, Desmond Kearns, 44, of Tannaghmore Green, both Lurgan, and Dermot Gregory, 41, also known as Michael Dermot from Concession Road, Crossmaglen, deny a total of seven charges.

The charges relate to an alleged plot to smuggle arms into Northern Ireland from Eastern Europe.

Gordon Kerr QC for the prosecution rejected the suggestion that Kearns or McCaugherty were the victims of entrapment.

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

Lawyers: gun-running accused 'are victims of MI5 entrapment'

16 June 2010
The Irish News

Judgment was reserved yesterday on whether MI5 over-stepped the mark in a two-year sting operation against dissident republicans.

Lawyers for two of three Co Armagh men facing charges arising out of the MI5 operation against the Real IRA claim they were "entrapped" and it would be an "abuse of process" to continue with their Belfast Crown Court trial.

Diplock judge Mr Justice Hart, trying the month-long case alone without a jury, said he hoped to give his ruling within a few days, if not by the beginning of next week.

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

Cigs smuggler was 'entrapped by MI5'

15 June 2010
Mirror
Lawyer wants case thrown out

THE case against one of three men facing charges after an MI5 operation against the Real IRA should be thrown out, his lawyer argued yesterday.

Orlando Pownell told judge Mr Justice Hart that it would be an "abuse of process" to continue with the Belfast Crown Court trial of Desmond Paul Kearns, 44, from Lurgan, Co Armagh.

The lawyer claimed the cigarette smuggler was "entrapped" as part of an intelligence-gathering operation by MI5 against weapon procurement in western Europe by the Real IRA.

That entrapment, he claimed, was carried out by one of the main prosecution witnesses, known only as Amir, a secret Service "role-playing operative". He was described by Mr Pownell as "a clever and trained individual" who used deceit to get his own way.

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

Smuggler 'entrapped' by MI5 argues lawyer

15 June 2010
The Irish News

The prosecution case against one of the three Co Armagh men facing charges arising out of an MI5 sting operation against the Real IRA should be thrown out, his lawyer has argued.

Defence QC Orlando Pownell told trial judge Mr Justice Hart that it would be an "abuse of process" to continue with the Belfast Crown Court trial of 44-year-old Desmond Paul Kearns from Tannaghmore Green, Lurgan.

The London-based lawyer said the cigarette smuggler was "entrapped" by MI5 operatives as part of an initial intelligence gathering operation by the Security Service against weapon procurement in western Europe by the Real IRA.

Mr Pownell submitted that this was the "most unusual case, if not unique... as it relates to entrapment".

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

MI5 sting decision adjourned

15 June 2010
UTV News
A Belfast judge has adjourned his decision on whether the MI5 branch of the Secret Services over-stepped the mark in a two-year sting operation against dissident Republicans.

Lawyers for two of three Co Armagh men facing charges arising out of the MI5 operation against the Real IRA, claim they were "entrapped" and it would be an "abuse of process" to continue with their Belfast Crown Court trial.

Diplock judge Mr Justice Hart, trying the month-long case alone, without a jury, said he hoped to give his ruling within a few days, if not by the beginning of next week.

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

Accused entrapped in MI5 sting operation, court told

Belfast Telegraph
15 June 2010

The prosecution case against one of the three men facing charges arising out of an MI5 sting operation against the Real IRA should be thrown out, a court has heard.

Defence QC Orlando Pownall told trial judge Mr Justice Hart it would be an “abuse of process” to continue with the Belfast Crown Court trial of 44-year-old Desmond Paul Kearns, from Tannaghmore Green, Lurgan.

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