Trio to stand trial on terrorism charges

Three relatives of prominent dissident republican Colin Duffy are to stand trial on terrorist-related offences later this year.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jun 2015, 11:55 BST
Damien Duffy. INLM28-007Damien Duffy. INLM28-007
Damien Duffy. INLM28-007

The Lurgan trio - Shane Duffy, Paul John Duffy and Damien Daniel Duffy - appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court on Friday, where they each denied charges linked to terrorism.

All three have been charged with conspiring to murder a member or members of the PSNI or the Northern Ireland Prison Service between November 28, 2009 and December 11, 2011.

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When the charge was put to the three, each replied “not guilty”.

Paul Duffy (50), from Ailesbury Gardens in Lurgan - a brother of Colin Duffy - faces a further five charges, namely four counts of preparing terrorist acts and a charge of conspiring to cause an explosion at the junction of Kilmore Road and Cottage Road, Lurgan, between June 20 and July 3, 2011. He denies all the charges.

His brother Damien Duffy (45), from Campbell Walk in Lurgan, is facing a total of three charges. As well as the conspiracy to murder charge, he is charged with preparing acts of terrorism. When the charges were put to him, he replied “not guilty”.

Their cousin Shane Duffy (44) and whose address cannot be published due to a reporting restriction imposed at a previous court hearing, faces a total of four offences.

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In addition to denying the conspiracy to murder charge, Shane Duffy also denied three counts of preparing acts of terrorism.

Mr Justice Weir said the trio will be facing trial in September and revealed that the trial is expected to last up to seven weeks.

They were then released on continuing bail after the Crown offered no objections, and were ordered to return to court for their trial on September 14, 2015.