Northern Ireland

Two men to stand trial on IRA membership charges

Two men are to stand trial later this year on charges brought under the Terrorism Act after they appeared in court today.

The pair have been charged with belonging to, or professing to belong to, a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA.

Carl Reilly (41) from Pollard Close in Belfast and 42-year old co-accused Paul Philip Crawford of Carrickree Mews in Warrenpoint were both charged with being a member of the IRA between January 2014 and October 2015.

When the charge was put to both Reilly and Crawford at Belfast Crown Court, each replied 'not guilty.'

Reilly was also charged with directing a terrorist organisation, namely the IRA, on the same dates, and he denied this offence too.

All the charges fall under Terrorism Act 2000.

The non-jury Diplock trial is scheduled to take place at the end of November in Belfast.