Courthouse Accused Is Farrell's Brother

The brother of an IRA woman who died in an SAS ambush while plotting a bomb attack in Gibraltar more than 20 years ago has been in a Co Down court accused in connection with a terrorist bomb attack.

Ciaran Farrell, whose sister Mairead was one of three republicans gunned down by the SAS in 1988, appeared at Newry Magistrates' court - which is the same location that he is accused of blowing up back in February.

The 51-year-old, arrested in the Dunmurry area on Monday, is charged with the dissident republican car bombing that caused substantial damage to the outside of the court in February.

Mr Farrell, who denies the charges, was refused bail and will appear again by video link on 23 June.

A police detective said there was "strong circumstantial" evidence linking the defendant to the bombing.

A lawyer for the Public Prosecution Service said: "This accused is a member of a dissident republican organisation, in particular the police view, and the Crown view concurs, that it is the Real IRA."

He told magistrate that, if she allowed the accused out on bail, there was a risk to the public.

The married father-of-two is accused of unlawfully and maliciously planting the car bomb in a manner likely to endanger life or damage property.

The PPS lawyer said that if convicted the defendant faced a considerable period in jail.

Farrell, who is married to an American, travels often to the US and the prosecution said that heightened their fear that he could flee.

The lawyer also said he had associated with another person wanted by police in connection with the bombing.

However, his solicitor said he emphatically denied the charges.

Farrell was remanded in custody to reappear at the same court via video link on 23 June.

In 2008, a commemoration organised by Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann for Mairéad Farrell had originally been scheduled to take place in Stormont's Long Gallery.

Opposition from other MLAs resulted in the introduction of restrictions and it took place instead in Sinn Féin's conference room.

There was also opposition from dissident republicans incensed at the use of the 'British' building to recall a dead republican.

See: Dublin Spied On Gibraltar Three: Adams

(BMcC/GK)