A Monaghan man appearing at an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin tonight has been charged with IRA membership.

Jim Smyth (43) was arrested in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, this evening by members of the Special Detective Unit as part of ongoing investigations into dissident republican activity.

Mr Smyth, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan was charged with membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25th, 2015.

Detective Garda Colm Finnerty told State Solicitor Elaine Fitzmaurice that he arrested Mr Smyth under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act today on Main Street, Carrickmacross, outside the garda station.

He said he explained to Mr Smyth the reason for his arrest in ordinary language and cautioned him.

Mr Smyth made no reply, the court heard.

The detective garda detained Mr Smyth in Carrickmacross garda station before transporting him to the Special Criminal Court, where he showed the charged man a copy of the original charge sheet, to which Mr Smyth made no reply.

Breffni Gordon BL, for Mr Smyth, asked Det Gda Finnerty if, prior to his arrest today, the charged man had been in garda custody.

The charged man had been in custody since Wednesday night, the court heard.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge William Hamill, remanded Mr Smyth in custody until Wednesday morning, when a bail application is expected to be heard.

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