Three suspected members of the "Real IRA" appeared amid tight security at London’s Old Bailey today for a brief pre-trial hearing.
Mr Fintan O'Farrell (35), Mr Declan Rafferty (41) and Mr Michael McDonald (44), all from Co Louth, were remanded in custody until a plea and direction hearing due on November 12th.
The three men face five joint charges, including that they "belonged or professed to belong to a proscribed organisation".
The three were arrested in the small spa town of Piest'any in Slovakia on July 5th after allegedly trying to procure arms and were extradited to Britain last month.
They were brought into court handcuffed to prison officers. When their solicitor, Ms Gareth Peirce, objected to the handcuffing, she was told by the judge the decision to do so today was not to be regarded as a precedent in the case.
"In future in my view it is preferable if an application [for handcuffing] is to be made, it should be done in open court with the help of the prosecution, so they can forward reasons and the defence is able to resist," said Judge Michael Hyam.
"We certainly would resist. When these three defendants appeared at a longer hearing in the magistrates court last week, they were not handcuffed," said Ms Peirce.
PA