Accused claims 32 County group supports ceasefire

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement's public relations officer told the Special Criminal Court yesterday his movement supported…

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement's public relations officer told the Special Criminal Court yesterday his movement supported the IRA ceasefire and the peace process.

Mr Joe Dillon said: "There was no conflict inside the movement. The only difference was the issue of sovereignty."

Mr Dillon was giving evidence at a " trial within a trial" to decide on the admissibility of alleged statements made by him to gardai after his arrest for possession of explosives last year.

The court heard gardai found 28 bags of crushed fertiliser and five bags of the fertiliser in granule form at a disused fish shop in Howth and another bag in granule form at an unoccupied house in Bettystown, Co Meath.

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The prosecution claimed it was intended for use in an explosive mixture. Mr Eamonn Flanagan (42), The Square, Skerries, Mr Seamus McLoughlin (67), Balkill Park, Howth, and Mr Michael Blount (48), Bath Road, Balbriggan, have pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to do so at Howth, Co Dublin, on January 5th last year.

Mr Dillon (53), public relations officer for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, of Greenlawns, Skerries, has pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to do so at Windswept, Golf Links Road, Bettystown, Co Meath, on January 5th last year.

Cross-examined by prosecuting counsel Mr Paul O'Higgins SC, Mr Dillon denied the 32 County Sovereignty Movement was "at loggerheads" with other strands in the republican movement.

He said the group took issue with the fact that the Sinn Fein leadership was negotiating with the British government while Britain maintained sovereignty over part of the country.

Mr Dillon denied making admissions to gardai that he loaded bags on to a truck at Bettystown.

The trial continues today.