An Irishman jailed in Lithuania after being convicted of trying to buy weapons for the Real IRA has been freed by an appeal court.

Michael Campbell, who has been in prison since his arrest in 2008, smiled as police took off his handcuffs and freed him in court in the capital, Vilnius. He was arrested as part of an international sting operation that included undercover British agents as he tried to purchase guns and explosives.

The Vilnius Appeals Court said prosecutors failed to prove ties with the Real IRA and suggested Mr Campbell was the victim of entrapment.

 

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Lithuanian court frees man jailed in Real IRA weapons sting (Liudas Dapkus, Irish Examiner)