Omagh suspect sought on arms plot

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A Dundalk man suspected of involvement in the Omagh bombing is wanted in Lithuania over a plot to smuggle weapons to Ireland, a court has heard.

Liam Campbell, 46, was arrested at the weekend after crossing the border.

He was released without charge on Tuesday, but rearrested on a European arrest warrant, issued in Lithuania.

At Belfast Recorder's Court on Wednesday, Campbell was remanded in custody so Judge Tom Burgess could contact Lithuanian prosecutors.

Campbell, of Upper Faughart, County Louth, is one of five men being sued over the Omagh bomb atrocity which claimed 29 lives.

In 2001, he was jailed in the Irish Republic for membership of the dissident paramilitary group.

It is understood his car was rammed by police as he drove through the County Armagh village of Bessbrook last Friday.

In January, a separate European Arrest Warrant, in connection with the same charges, was issued in Dublin seeking Campbell's extradition to Lithuania.

This was alongside his brother Michael, who was arrested in a police sting operation last January.

'Advanced stage'

Campbell's lawyer said that extradition proceedings were at an advanced stage in the Republic.

He told Judge Burgess: "I would ask you to take into account that he wasn't trying to evade the proceedings (in the Republic) and to allow those proceedings to continue."

However, a barrister appearing for the Lithuanian authorities argued against the proposal by stressing it was not allowed under the legislation.

Opposing bail, Mr Ritchie also told the court: "The matters for which Mr Campbell and the other people named in the warrant are sought are very serious offences if true.

"They in essence amount to the acquisition of a large quantity of firearms, ammunition, explosive devices and substances including automatic rifles, projectors, detonators and timers, and to bring them from the Republic of Lithuania to Ireland," he said.

Judge Burgess said he would email the deputy prosecutor in Lithuania to gain more details.

Campbell was remanded in custody until Friday when the case will next be heard.