Belfast man charged over collecting information

A Belfast man was today charged with collecting information for terrorist purposes while working as a clerk at the city's Royal…

A Belfast man was today charged with collecting information for terrorist purposes while working as a clerk at the city's Royal Victoria Hospital.

Mr Ciaran James Cunningham (27), with an address at Grainne House in the New Lodge area of Belfast was charged with collecting information about police officers, soldiers, a prison officer and persons not named of a nature likely to be of use to anyone committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

A police inspector applied for a remand back into police custody so that Mr Cunningham could be questioned about other matters.

Defence solicitor Mr Joe McVeigh opposed the application which, he said, related to a de-briefing document about a foiled bomb attack on the motor tax office at Upper Queen Street, Belfast, last year.

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Resident Magistrate Mr Mark Hamill remanded Mr Cunningham into police custody for up to three days and directed that the case be re-listed tomorrow to review progress.

Mr Cunningham was arrested on Tuesday following a series of police raids linked to an alleged Real IRA intelligence gathering operation based on the RVH. Four other men were still being questioned this evening.

The personal details of over 300 people are believed to have been taken from medical records and computer files. They include politicians, members of District Policing Partnerships and the Police Board, senior police officers, loyalists and republicans.