CO. TYRONE, RETATA DI ARRESTI. ALTRI QUATTRO IN CUSTODIA A MAGHABERRY
Four remanded over ‘terror training camp’ near Omagh (BBC News Northern Ireland)
Four people have appeared in court on charges linked to an alleged terrorist training camp in County Tyrone.
They are Sharon Rafferty, from Cavana Linn in Pomeroy, Sean Kelly from Duneane Crescent in Toomebridge, Terence Aidan Coney, of Malabhui Road in Omagh and Gavin Coney from Gorticashel Road, also in Omagh.
Omagh Magistrate’s Court was told there was evidence to link them to a firing range at Formil Wood, near Omagh.
The accused were remanded in custody.
Targetting
The court was told that approximately 200 rounds were heard being fired at the Formil Wood site on Gorticashel Road on 30 March, 2012.
Bullet casings had also been recovered from the area.
A PSNI detective sergeant said conversations had been recorded between Ms Rafferty and Mr Kelly from 2011 until April 2012, in which they discussed targeting police officers and senior prison officers, acquiring firearms, firearms training, recruiting, and providing finance for an organisation.
The police officer also said the pair were recorded discussing the penetrative power of a .22 rifle on a human being and “walking up to people and pumping nine rounds into them”.
He said the PSNI would present witness and DNA evidence linking all four accused to the firing range.
They are each charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism, possession of a .22 Walther rifle and ammunition and attending a place used for terrorist training.
Ms Rafferty and Mr Kelly are also charged with directing the activities of a terrorist organisation, while Mr Kelly faces a futher charge of collecting information likely to be of use to terrorists.
The officer said Gavin Coney’s house had been searched, revealing balaclavas, rubber gloves and four sets of waterproof clothing.
Denial
He also confirmed that a .22 Walther rifle is legally held by 34-year-old Gavin Coney.
The court heard that during seven days of interviews, Ms Rafferty and the Coney brothers had not answered police questions, while Mr Kelly had denied membership of any organisation.
There was no bail application for the Coneys or Mr Kelly, who was realeased from prison on licence under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
An application was made on behalf of Ms Rafferty, a 37-year-old single mother of three, but the judge refused.
All four are due to appear again by videolink before the court in Omagh on Tuesday.