New charges for three accused of Continuity IRA membership
Three men arrested during a Garda Special Branch investigation into the activities of the Continuity IRA in Co Wexford faced new explosives and ammunition charges at the Special Criminal Court today.
The three are Billy Phillips (aged 45) of Harbour View, Maudlintown, Wexford, Jackie Bates (aged 55) of Jacketstown House, Jacketstown, Drinagh, Co Wexford and Robert Kearns (aged 32) of Redshire Road, Murrintown, Co Wexford.
All three men were charged last March with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA ,on March 1. They were also charged with the unlawful possession of 160 rounds of ammunition on the same date.
Bates was also charged with possession of a firearm without a firearms certificate at Ballycogley, Co Wexford on March 1.
Kearns was also charged with the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at Redshire Road, Murrintown on the same date.
Today, Phillips was charged with the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at Moortown, Ballycogley, Co Wexford on March 1.
Bates was charged with the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at Ballycogley, and the unlawful possession of ammunition at Jacketstown House, Co Wexford on the same date.
Kearns was also charged with the unlawful possession of ammunition at Murrintown, Co Wexford on March 1.
The court remanded all three men on continuing bail until October 3.
