No bail in Lithuania RIRA case

Mr Campbell is accused of trying to smuggle arms to Northern Ireland

A Lithuanian court has refused bail to a Dundalk man while he waits for his trial to start in October.

The Vilnius court said that 36-year-old Michael Campbell was considered a flight risk.

He was arrested in January 2008 while allegedly trying to buy weapons and explosives for the Real IRA.

Defence lawyers claimed that Mr Campbell's rights had been violated as he has already been in jail for 18 months without trial.

He appeared in court earlier this week for a preliminary hearing on charges of possessing and attempting to smuggle illegal weapons and supporting a terrorist organisation.

The latter charge carries a possible 20-year sentence.

His lawyers have questioned the means by which he was detained and also say there is not enough evidence to convict him.

He was detained followed a sting operation involving the British, Irish and Lithuanian intelligence agencies.

Prosecutors in Vilnius told the BBC that following a series of meetings in France and Poland, Mr Campbell eventually came to Lithuania, where he was kept under police surveillance.

They allege he paid 10,000 euros (£8,600) for a haul of weapons including a sniper rifle, detonators, timers and about 10kg (22lb) of high explosives.

He was detained after allegedly handing over the money in a garage in the industrial zone of Vilnius.