A Co Louth small farmer plays a central role in the day-today management, control and direction of the "Real IRA", the Special Criminal Court was told yesterday.
Det Supt Peter Maguire of the Special Detective Unit said Liam Campbell was an active member of the "Real IRA" which is "carrying out a guerrilla war in Northern Ireland and Great Britain to bring about constitutional change in Northern Ireland".
He opposed bail for Mr Campbell who was charged before the court earlier this month.
The court adjourned the bail application until next Friday to allow the defence access to notes taken of the interviews conducted with Mr Campbell when he was in custody at Kells Garda station. Mr Campbell was remanded in custody. Mr Campbell (38), a married father of two, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth, is charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on October 3rd last.
Det Supt Maguire said Mr Campbell's house is on the Border with Northern Ireland. Gardai who searched the house on October 3rd found an underground bunker with a concealed entrance. i They also found £2,000 sterling, three walkie-talkies, a hand-held radio scanner and binoculars. In a car in a garage they found two paper disposable body suits and in the garage two packets of white gloves.
A roll of black insulating tape and small-bore tubing which can be used as booster for homemade explosives were also found. In a shed they found a two-way CB radio and a pair of black rubber gloves.
Mr Campbell was arrested and taken to Kells Garda station, where he was questioned for a total of 16 hours.
He refused to comment on the items found or on his alleged membership of an illegal organisation.
Det Supt Maguire said he believed if granted bail Mr Campbell would abscond. His basis was the seriousness of the charge and the weight of evidence against Mr Campbell.
He said the prosecution case against Mr Campbell would be based on the opinion of Chief Supt Michael Finnegan that Mr Campbell was a member of an illegal organisation and this would be corroborated by the material recovered and by Mr Campbell's refusal to explain the items.
Det Supt Maguire said since it was formed in late 1997 the "Real IRA" had up to October 1999 carried out 26 major incidents, including the Omagh bombing in which 29 people were killed.
Since October 1999 it has carried out a further 26 criminal incidents, including robbery, possession of explosives, training and drilling and attacks using explosives and rockets on public buildings and police stations.
"The current status of the Real IRA is that it is ostensibly on ceasefire. Since it called that ceasefire it has continued to operate and to carry out large-scale operations. "I believe Mr Campbell will continue to be a member of the `Real IRA', involved in the management, direction and control of that organisation from day to day."
Cross-examined by Mr Campbell's counsel, Mr Hugh Hartnett SC, Det Supt Maguire said he believed that since last January Mr Campbell had taken over a certain role in the "Real IRA" because certain other people were in custody.