The Special Criminal Court yesterday fixed a date in January 2005 for the trial of eight men arrested when gardaí swooped on a suspected Continuity IRA training camp in Co Waterford last August.
The court heard that the trial of the eight men is expected to last a full legal term and the next available date for trial is January 2005.
Six accused are charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on August 3rd last.
They are Mr Patrick Deery (52), of Woodhouse, Stradbally, Co Waterford, Mr Joseph Mooney (35), of Ozzier Court, Co Waterford, Mr John O' Halloran (33), of Ross Avenue, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, Mr Mark Mc Mahon (35), of Commodore Barry Park, Wexford, Mr Patrick Kelly (36), of Belvedere Grove, Wexford and Mr Brian Galvin (37), of Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford.
Mr Thomas Barry (20), of Larchville, Lisduggan, Co Waterford, is charged with the unlawful possession of a shotgun and Mr Michael Leahy (22), of McCarthyville, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, is charged with the unlawful possession of a single-barrelled shotgun on the same date.
The court was told at an earlier hearing that gardaí found four firearms, ammunition, balaclavas and a makeshift firing range when they swooped on a location in the Comeragh mountains after a surveillance operation.
Mr Justice Finnegan, presiding, fixed January 11th , 2005 as the date for the men's trial and remanded all except Galvin, Barry and Deery on continuing bail until then.