Six Dundalk men charged with illegal membership

Six Dundalk men have appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today charged with membership of the IRA.

The six were arrested by gardaí on Saturday as part of investigations into the activities of dissident republicans.

The accused men are Mr Dalton McKevitt (26) of St Aubins Avenue Road, Dundalk; Mr Niall Farrell (25) of Cederwood Park, Dundalk; Mr Tony O'Hare (40) of Marrion Park, Dundalk; Mr Vincent McKevitt (44) of Mountain Court, Point Road, Dundalk; Mr Alan Browne (35) of a separate address in Mountain Court; and Mr Eoin Quigley (29) of Oakland Park, Dundalk.

Detectives told the court each of the men was arrested at 6, Nicholas Street South, Dundalk, on Saturday night on suspicion of unlawfully possessing firearms.

They were brought to Navan, Balbriggan, and Ashbourne Garda stations where they were questioned in relation to the alleged offence.

The six were released last night but were immediately re-arrested and charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the IRA, otherwise known as the Irish Republican Army or Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Detectives also told the court that, when cautioned, five of the men did not respond. Mr Vincent McKevitt, in reply to the caution, said: "I have nothing to say". They were remanded in custody until Tuesday next, January 15th.

Mr Vincent McKevitt, a married man, of Mountain Court, Dundalk, was out on bail at the time of his arrest. He was already charged with membership of an illegal organisation on October 26th 2000 and is due to go on trial on April 9th next. He is no relation to the other man charged of that name, Mr Dalton McKevitt.

Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, presiding, remanded the men in custody to appear before the Special Criminal Court next Tuesday, when applications for bail and legal aid will be heard.

A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to a seventh man, also arrested on Saturday night.