Senior dissident republican Colin Duffy arrested by police tody
LEADING dissident republican Colin Duffy is police custody this evening for questioning about terrorist activity in Belfast.
He was handed over by prison staff at Belfast Magistrates’ Court to detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorist Investigation Unit.
Detectives had earlier been granted permission in the court to question him for up to 72 hours.
The 46-year-old is currently on remand in Maghaberry prison charged with IRA membership, plotting to murder security force members, conspiracy to possess firearms and explosives with intent to endanger life.
He and two others were arrested last December following a lengthy covert surveillance operation including the planting of secret listening devices to record his conversations.
TIU detectives appeared at Court 10 of Belfast Magistrates’ Court today requesting his transfer from prison custody to police custody to quiz him about dissident republican terrorism unconnected to his current case.
Duffy, of Forest Glade in Lurgan, Co Armagh, was led into the dock in handcuffs by prison custody officers (PCOs) to hear the police application.
A detective constable confirmed police wanted him for questioning.
The officer told the court during cross examination by a defence solicitor that the PSNI wanted to question Duffy about “separate matters” relating to dissident republican terrorism in Belfast.
The district judge granted the police application and Duffy was later handed over to police and taken to the serious crime suite in Antrim where he can be held for up to 72 hours.
