A THIRD Irish man has appeared before the High Court on foot of warrants seeking extradition to Lithuania on charges alleging conspiracy to obtain arms and explosives.
Mr Justice Michael Peart remanded Séamus McGreevy in custody yesterday, with consent to bail, on foot of the Lithuanian warrants. Mr McGreevy had previously served a sentence here for training others at a Real IRA camp.
The Lithuanian authorities are seeking the extradition of Mr McGreevy (56), St Anne’s, Stamullen Road, Gormanston, Co Meath, on charges alleging he had conspired from Ireland with others between the end of 2006 and 2007 to obtain weapons, ammunition and explosive substances in the Baltic Republic.
He is the third Irish citizen whose extradition is being sought in connection with an alleged attempt to acquire weapons and explosives.
On Wednesday the court remanded in custody with consent to bail Liam Campbell (46), Upper Faughart, Dundalk, who had served an eight-year term here on IRA membership charges.
Another man, Brendan McGuigan (28), New Houses, Knocknagoran, Omeath, Co Louth, was granted bail last year pending extradition proceedings.
A fourth man, Michael Campbell (36), Upper Faughart, Dundalk, was detained in Vilnius on similar charges.
Yesterday, Mr Justice Peart was told that the State was consenting to bail for Mr McGreevy once an independent surety of €50,000 had been approved. Other conditions provide that he must sign on daily with gardaí and reside at his home address.
The judge remanded Mr McGreevy, a farmer, to Cloverhill Prison, pending the approval of the independent surety by the court tomorrow. The court was told Mr McGreevy was anxious to have bail approved as soon as possible, as he had concerns about being able to tend to sheep on his farm.
Det Sgt Jim Kirwan told the court he arrested Mr McGreevy earlier yesterday.
When asked whether he knew about the charges contained in the warrant, he said Mr McGreevy replied: “No. I have never been to Lithuania, this is bulls**t.”
When asked about the other persons named in the warrant, Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr McGreevy said he was in prison with Liam Campbell but had never heard of Michael Campbell or Brendan McGuigan.
Mr McGreevy received a four-year prison sentence from the non-jury Special Criminal Court in 2001 after pleading guilty to training people to use firearms in 1999 at Herbertstown, Stamullen, Co Meath. It was increased by two years by the Court of Criminal appeal in 2002.