Crown drops charges against Elaine Moore

All charges against the Dublin woman, Ms Elaine Moore (22) were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London last…

All charges against the Dublin woman, Ms Elaine Moore (22) were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London last night, her solicitor, Ms Gareth Peirce, was informed.

Her mother, Ms Cathy Moore, will travel to London today and she is expected to return to Ireland with her daughter.

Welcoming the development last night, the Taoiseach said he was pleased for Ms Moore and her family that the charges had been dropped and her ordeal was over. Ms Moore was due in court next Tuesday on charges of possession of explosives and conspiracy to cause explosions. She had been on conditional bail in London since she was released from Woodhill Prison in early August.

She was arrested on July 10th after police searched her flat in Hampstead, north London, where it is alleged they found a small amount of Semtex and timing devices in a hold-all. Ms Moore's arrest came hours after British police, acting on information provided by the Garda, foiled an attempt by a group of men to plant incendiary devices in central London. She had been accused of conspiracy to cause explosions and possession of explosives with Mr Liam Patrick Grogan (21), of Naas, Co Kildare and Mr Anthony Hyland (25), of no address. A third man, Mr Darren Mulholland (19), of Dundalk, Co Louth was charged with conspiracy to cause explosions.

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The Fine Gael MEP, Ms Mary Banotti, who had campaigned on Ms Moore's behalf, said last night she was "absolutely delighted" at the news. "It was what I expected all along but it has come about a little quicker than I thought it would," she said. "I was always completely convinced of her innocence and I'm sure it must be a great relief to herself and her family and everyone who supported her campaign."