The Brixton prison escaper Pearse McCauley could face further serious charges, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday. McCauley (32), from Strabane, Co Tyrone, and of no fixed address, was remanded in custody until December 4th. He already faces charges of the unlawful possession of two rifles, a handgun and a shotgun at Clonolea, Toomevara, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on June 7th, 1996, and of having three shotgun cartridges.
Yesterday Mr George Bermingham, prosecuting, said the State was anxious that the charges against McCauley should be dealt with on February 17th, 1998, the date on which three other men are due to go on trial on charges connected with the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe in 1996.
A decision is also imminent on more serious charges against McCauley. He is wanted in Britain for conspiracy to murder a former brewery chairman, conspiracy to cause explosions in Britain in November 1990 and escaping from lawful custody and malicious wounding in July 1991.