Dundalk men in court following explosives find

Two Dundalk men appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday in connection with an explosives find in Meath on Tuesday.

The pair, both in their 40s, were arrested after Gardaí stopped two cars on the N52 between Kells and Ardee on Tuesday and discovered explosives.

Michael Connolly (42) of Grange Drive, Dundalk, was charged with membership of the IRA on December 16^th.

Meanwhile, Brian Fitzpatrick (49) of Castleross, Dundalk, was charged with two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances on the same day at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co Meath.

Meanwhile, a Dundalk man, as well as two others, are due to go on trial in the Special Criminal Court in July 2016 charged with possession of explosive devices in Kilcurry on May 25^th last.

Gareth Mulley (45) with an address at Ashling Park, Dundalk, is charged with the possession of an explosive substance along with David Gallagher (37) of Marley Court in Drogheda and William Burns (38) of Kerrera Street, Ardoyne, Belfast, Co Antrim.

They are alleged to have had in their possession PETN and RDX, an adapted 50 litre beer keg, 50kgs of ammonium nitrate home-made explosives, an improvised detonation cord, an improvised steel booster tube and an improvised time and power unit.

Mr Mulley and Mr Gallagher have also been charged with membership of the IRA.

Two arrests made in connection with Butterly murder

Two men were arrested in Dublin and Meath yesterday morning in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly in Co Meath last year.

The 35-year-old from Cortown, Togher, Dunleer, was shot a number of times on March 6^th 2013 in the car park of the Huntsman Inn in Gormanstown.

The pair remain in custody this morning in Kells Garda Station.

Four men have already been charged with the Mid-Louth man’s murder and are awaiting trial at the Special Criminal Court.