Man appears in court on terror charges
A man has appeared in a court in the North charged with directing dissident republican terrorism.
There was heavy security as Paul John Duffy, 47, arrived in the courtroom to face the charge. He was also accused of conspiracy to murder, collecting information likely to be of use to terrorists, planning acts of terrorism and conspiring to cause an explosion.
Damien Duffy, 42, and Shane Duffy, 41, face the same charges but not directing terrorism.
It followed a major police and security services operation.
The three men were remanded in custody at Lisburn Magistrates' Court by district judge Amanda Henderson.
A detective sergeant said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges, some of which took place between November 2009 and the present time.
Crowds of family and supporters shouted encouragement as the accused, dressed in jeans and casual tops, were led away.
Officers clad in riot gear lined the packed courtroom and police Land Rovers were stationed outside the courthouse in the centre of Lisburn.
The charges follow a police arrest operation at the suspects’ homes in Lurgan, Co Armagh, part of a wider probe into alleged dissident republican activity.
Paul Duffy is from Ailsbury Gardens in the town, Damien Duffy is from Campbell Walk and Shane Duffy is from Kilwilkie Road.
