The trial has opened in Belfast of a schoolteacher accused of IRA membership. Ms Rose Maire McLaughlin (26) of Bangor, Co Down, denies five charges, including two of IRA membership between June and November 1996. She is accused of spying on a former head of the Special Branch and on a Co Down RUC station.
Ms McLaughlin was arrested on November 9th, 1996. She denies plotting to collect information useful to terrorists, collecting information on Bangor RUC station and communicating information on former Special Branch head and Assistant Chief Constable Mr Trevor Forbes. The trial continues today.