IRA Membership Charges Heard In Dublin

Two men have appeared in Dublin's Special Criminal Court, charged with membership of the IRA.

Declan Geraghty, 27, with an address in Crumlin, and 30-year-old Stephen O'Shaughnessy from Tallaght were arrested on Saturday afternoon as part of a Gardaí operation.

A third man, 33-year-old Stephen McGowan from Clondalkin, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. All three men are remanded in custody.

A total of four arrests were originally made in Dublin after the discovery of a loaded firearm during an operation in the capital on Saturday.

Gardai said they had arrested four people and seized a loaded firearm during an operation on Saturday afternoon. One of the men has since been released without charge.

A Gardaí spokesman said the arrests were made after a planned operation by officers from the Special Detective Unit, based at Harcourt Court Square, who are investigating the activities of criminals in the West Dublin area.

A loaded Ingrams machine pistol was recovered during the search on the property.

Among the four people arrested were two men in their 30s and one in his 20s. A woman also in her 30s was held.

They were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act 1939, at Clondalkin, Shankill and Blackrock Garda stations.

(DW/BMcC)