Three alleged members of the "Real IRA", who are accused of trying to buy weapons and bomb-making equipment from Slovakia, appeared handcuffed at the Old Bailey in London yesterday. Mr Fintoan O'Farrell (35), Mr Declan Rafferty (41) and Mr Michael McDonald (44), all from Co Louth, are charged with six offences under the Terrorism Act, 2000 and the Criminal Law Act, 1977.
At an earlier Old Bailey appearance by the defendants, Mr Simon Denison, prosecuting, said that the three were arrested in Piest'an, Slovakia, on July 5th last. After extradition proceedings they were brought back to Britain on August 30th.