Four men in court on 'Real IRA' charges

Four men arrested in connection with an alleged "Real IRA" firebomb attempt appeared in court today charged with membership of…

Four men arrested in connection with an alleged "Real IRA" firebomb attempt appeared in court today charged with membership of an illegal organisation.

The four appeared at Dublin's Special Criminal Court after being arrested following an alleged attempt to blow up a house in Co Cork.

Mr Anthony Crowley (21) and Mr Alan Hickey (19),  both from Blarney, Co Cork, were charged with membership of an organisation styling itself the IRA.

Mr Jonathan O'Rourke (24) and Mr Paul McCarthy (22), also from Blarney, were charged with membership of an unlawful organisation.

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Mr Crowley, Mr Hickey and Mr O'Rourke were remanded in custody by the three-judge court while McCarthy was released on bail subject to various conditions.

The men were arrested after a van packed with petrol was set alight outside a family home on the Fairways estate, Little Island, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Fire bombs were also hurled at the house.

No one was injured in the explosion but a number of houses were evacuated by fire crews as a precaution.

Bail applications will be heard next Friday, April 2nd.

PA