Martin John McCauley, 62, with an address at Esmondale in Naas, County Kildare, appeared in the dock at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Mr McCauley was one of the so-called Colombia Three, who were accused of training rebel FARC guerrilla forces in 2001.

McCauley was charged with murdering Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Sergeant Sean Quinn and constables Allan McCloy and Paul Hamilton in a landmine attack at Kinnego Embankment near Lurgan on October 27 1982. A prosecution lawyer said the case against McCauley related to forensic evidence found on cigarette butts.

Ireland's national weather service says the country has seen 114 mph wind gusts, the highest ever recorded on the island.

There are warnings of danger to life, fallen electric lines, damaged infrastructure and widespread power outages

Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are under the top-level red weather warnings for wind from early on Friday.

Emergency crews are cleaning up after a storm bearing record-breaking winds left at least one person dead and more than a million without power across the island of Ireland and Scotland

Met Éireann forecasts extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h with many schools and workplaces set to close

A red wind warning has been issued for the whole of the Republic of Ireland, with Met Éireann warning of a possible "danger to life". The alert comes into effect at varying times from 02:00 on Friday and will end at varying times. Met Éireann has warned that "severe, damaging and destructive winds" are expected, with gusts of up to 130km/h.

A Dublin Port Company funded study found that despite large-scale marine construction, seals in the Dublin-port area are 'thriving'.

Micheál Martin became Ireland’s taoiseach (prime minister) for the second time in his political career on Thursday, a day later than planned.

Ireland's national weather service says the country has seen 114 mph wind gusts, the highest ever recorded on the island.

Counties Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow are expected to see dramatic increases in population growth by 2042.