A charge against a missing Co Armagh man, Mr Garreth O'Connor, of "Real IRA" membership was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday after the court was told he was the subject of a suspected murder investigation.
Mr O'Connor (24), of Bawnbrook Hill, Armagh, had been due to stand trial along with three other Co Armagh men accused of membership of an illegal organisation on November 8th, 2002.
But yesterday Mr George Birmingham SC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr O'Connor was not in court. He said there was "considerable concern about his well-being" and added that there were reports that he had been abducted.
Mr Birmingham asked the court to adjourn the case against Mr O'Connor. He asked for the adjournment to allow further inquiries by the Garda and the PSNI.
The court agreed to adjourn the case against Mr O'Connor generally.
Mr O'Connor went missing on May 11th last year while he was on his way from his home in Armagh to Dundalk Garda station to sign on as part of his bail conditions. Meanwhile, three men arrested along with Mr O'Connor pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the IRA on November 8th, 2002.
They are Mr Cathal Loughran (27), Friary Road, Clady, Co Armagh; Mr Dominic Dynes (32), St Matthew's Estate, Keady, Co Armagh; and Mr Aidan Grew (47), of Benburb Street, Blackwatertown, Co Armagh.
Opening the prosecution, Mr Birmingham said the Special Detective Unit was investigating the activities of an illegal organisation in the north Monaghan area in early November 2002. At 2.30 p.m. on November 8th they observed two vehicles, a blue Isuzu Trooper and a red Peugeot 306, leaving a farm in Dunaldrin.
The Isuzu was driven by Mr Loughran and the Peugeot by Mr Dynes.
The vehicles were followed through Monaghan town. When they were on the old Armagh road, close to the Border, they were stopped by gardaí and the drivers arrested.
The Isuzu had false number plates and had been stolen earlier in the year. Gardaí found balaclavas in the Peugeot.
Later gardaí went to search the farm where they had first observed the vehicles. In the course of the search a Toyota arrived. It was driven by the accused, Mr Grew, and the passenger was Mr O'Connor.
The occupants gave their names when approached by gardaí but then tried to leave the farm at high speed. However, gardaí apprehended and arrested the two occupants.
The Toyota was found to contain two brand new motorcycle helmets, a change of clothes and footwear and two mobile phones.The trial continues today.