Dissident Charges, The IRA Tyrone, Omagh Court, Real IRA

Four charged over dissident firing range

Terence Aidan Coney and Gavin Coney.

Three men and a woman have been remanded in custody after appearing at Omagh court on Saturday in connection with taking part in weapons training at an improvised dissident republican firing range outside Greencastle.

Terence Aidan Coney (33) of Malabhui Road, Carrickmore and Gavin Coney (34) of Gorticashel Road, Greencastle, are charged with taking part in weapons training at an improvised firing range in Formil Wood on the Gorticashel Road close to Greencastle on March 30 2012.

The pair are also charged with possessing a .22 Walter rifle and ammunition with intent to endanger life and the preparation of terrorist acts.

Sharon Rafferty (37) of Cavana Linn in Pomeroy and Sean Kelly (46) of Duneane Crescent in Toomebridgeface, face the same charges but also face the unusual charge of directing the activity of a terrorist organisation, namely the IRA.

Sean Kelly is also charged with, between July 1 2011 and November 2 2011, collecting information likely to be of use to terrorists.

Sean Kelly and Sharon Rafferty.

UNAFFILIATED

A detective sergeant from the PSNI told the court that he believed all four could be connected with the charges. He alleged that the four were among a number of unaffiliated dissident republicans based in the Mid Ulster, Lurgan and Belfast areas, styling themselves as the Irish Republican Army.

He said police had forensic evidence connecting Gavin Coney, Sharon Rafferty and Sean Kelly to the firing range at Formil Wood and witness evidence connecting Aidan Coney to the scene. He claimed in the region of 200 rounds were fired at the make-shift range, with a number of casings recovering from the scene.

The detective sergeant also described various conversations between Kelly and Rafferty held in locations in Tyrone where acquiring weapons and targetting police and prison officers was discussed.

He alleged that Kelly was actively involved in the targeting of prison officers, and was passing that information onto others appearing before Lisburn court on Saturday for the purpose of attack.

A bail application in respect of Sharon Rafferty was refused and all four were remanded in custody to appear via video-link at Omagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where it is expected further bail applications will be made.