The new legislation introduced to deal with paramilitary crime in the wake of the Omagh bombing was brought into action last night when a Dublin man, detained since last Monday, was brought before a special sitting of the District Court in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, to have his period of detention extended.
The man is understood to have been questioned in connection with serious crime. A senior garda officer made an application under the new legislation to have the suspect further remanded in custody.
The man was represented at the brief hearing by his solicitor, Mr Gerry Jones of Carrickmacross, who said it was the first time the legislation had been used for extending detention.