A CO Louth man has been remanded in custody, with consent to bail, by the High Court pending proceedings for his extradition to Lithuania. He is wanted there on charges of conspiracy to obtain weapons and explosives.
Mr Justice Michael Peart was told yesterday the State was consenting to bail being granted to Liam Campbell (46), Upper Faughart, Dundalk, on terms including an independent surety of €50,000 and his signing on daily with the Garda. He must live at his home address, surrender his passport and not apply for travel documents.
The judge remanded Mr Campbell to Cloverhill Prison pending the approval of the independent surety. He will appear before the High Court again next Monday.
Mr Campbell was convicted in May 2004 by the Special Criminal Court of being a member of the IRA in October 2000. He was also later convicted of a second membership charge relating to July 2001 and was jailed for eight years. He was freed early last year.
On Tuesday last, the High Court heard the Lithuanian authorities were seeking Mr Campbell’s extradition on charges alleging that he had conspired from Ireland with three others, in 2006 and 2007, to obtain weapons, ammunition and explosive substances from the Baltic republic.
An arrest warrant was endorsed by the High Court last week. It set out charges including attempting to acquire weapons, ammunition, explosives and other items including detonators and timers; being engaged in terrorism and preparing to smuggle items including firearms and explosive substances.
The court also heard Mr Campbell was detained by members of the Garda Extradition Unit at a car park in Dundalk on Tuesday.