Darren Weldon, a 45‑year‑old from Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for membership of a dissident terrorist organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The conviction followed DNA evidence linking him to a number plate recovered from the wreckage of a car bomb that detonated outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The court heard that the plate was found by PSNI officers and that DNA swabs taken from Weldon while in custody matched the profile on the plate. Weldon had previously been arrested in September 2012 on suspicion of IRA membership after attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, a former "Real IRA" member. The court also considered a WhatsApp message on Weldon's phone praising those who act "regardless of the consequences." Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced Weldon to five years, suspending the final year, and the effective custodial term was four years.
A 45‑year‑old Meath man, Darren Weldon, was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The conviction was based on DNA evidence linking Weldon to a car registration plate recovered from the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Garda DNA swabs taken from Weldon matched the DNA profile on the plate. Weldon had previously denied membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) when he was charged on 14 October 2014. He had been arrested in September 2012 for suspected IRA membership after attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, a former "Real IRA" member who was killed in 2012. During the trial, a WhatsApp message on Weldon's phone praising Alan Ryan was presented, and Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan testified that confidential information indicated Weldon's IRA membership. Weldon was remanded in custody until 16 January, when sentencing will occur.
Noel Murtagh, 29, pleaded guilty to assaulting Christopher and Joseph Lennon on Camden Street, Dublin, on 26 June 2014. The assault was unprovoked and involved punching and kicking the brothers. Joseph Lennon suffered a badly broken jaw, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth. Murtagh's co‑accused, Michael Coleman, was found to have caused the more serious injuries, including punching and kicking Joseph Lennon while he was on the ground. Coleman was jailed for 18 months in July 2015. Judge Melanie Greally accepted evidence that Coleman was the instigator and that Murtagh's role was less violent. She sentenced Murtagh to a three‑year prison term, suspended in full, and ordered 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The court noted a probation report indicating Murtagh was at low risk of re‑offending and had shown appropriate shame for his actions.
A barrister for Darren Weldon, 45, has applied to the Special Criminal Court to direct a verdict of not guilty in his IRA membership trial. Weldon pleaded not guilty on 14 October 2014. The prosecution alleges DNA links him to a number plate found in debris from a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Mr Hartnett argues significant frailties and gaps in the evidence, including the chain of DNA evidence and the fairness of a chief superintendent's belief evidence. The court will rule on the application on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Garda chief superintendent testified that he believed Darren Weldon, 45, of Drinadaly, Trim, was a member of the Irish Republican Army. Weldon pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 14 October 2014. The prosecution argued that DNA evidence linked Weldon to a number plate found in the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The case was closed by the prosecution, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Darren Weldon, a 45-year-old man from Drinadaly, Trim, has heard evidence regarding the prior conviction of Alan Ryan. Mr. Weldon has pleaded not guilty to the charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, allegedly committed on October 14, 2014. The prosecution alleges that DNA evidence links Mr. Weldon to a number plate found in the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on February 22, 2010. During proceedings, Detective Inspector William Hanrahan of the Special Detective Unit testified that in March 2001, Alan Ryan pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to receiving training in the use of firearms. This conviction was related to activities at a "Real IRA" training camp in Co Meath on October 20, 1999, for which Ryan was one of six men jailed. The court also heard that gardai observed Mr. Weldon in conversation with Mr. Ryan on April 2, 2012. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dr John Gibson presented DNA evidence linking Darren Weldon, 45, to a number plate recovered from the debris of a 2010 car bomb that detonated outside Newry courthouse. Gibson compared a DNA sample from Weldon to a profile obtained from the UK forensic services, concluding the probability of a coincidental match was "considerably less than one in a thousand million." He acknowledged uncertainty about how the DNA was deposited and its age, noting secondary and tertiary transfer were possible. Assistant scientific officer Chloe Holland had earlier recovered DNA from the top and bottom edges of the plate, while senior scientist Jonathan Irons reported receiving the plate on 3 March 2010. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, continues with Weldon pleading not guilty to IRA membership charges.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 28 November 2016, Darren Weldon, aged 45 and resident of Drinadaly, Trim, was accused of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He pleaded not guilty to the charge of belonging to an unlawful organisation. The prosecution presented DNA evidence linking Weldon to a number plate found in the wreckage of a car bomb that detonated outside the Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Garda investigators, led by Detective Garda Graham Dunne of the Special Detective Unit, interviewed Weldon on 14 October 2014 at Finglas Garda Station. Under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, the court considered Weldon's refusal to answer questions about the Newry bomb and alleged IRA activities. The court accepted the DNA sample as admissible evidence, despite an objection from Weldon's counsel, and the trial proceeded. The hearing concluded with the court noting that Weldon had not responded to any of the questions asked.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the arrest of Darren Weldon, 45, of Drinadaly, Trim, on 14 October 2014 for alleged IRA membership was lawful. Weldon pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann. The prosecution linked him to a car bomb by DNA evidence from a number plate found in the bomb's debris. The court rejected the defence's claim that a prior 2012 arrest made the 2014 arrest unlawful, citing different circumstances. The case continues with a voir dire on DNA evidence.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Darren Weldon, a 45‑year‑old accused of IRA membership, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking him to a car number plate recovered from the debris of a 2010 car bomb outside Newry courthouse. Christine Lumsden, a PSNI crime scene investigator, testified that she attended the scene the morning after the February 22 explosion, searched for bomb fragments, and recovered the plate. She also noted that Sergeant Michael Gilmore had seen a Mazda 6 with an Irish registration parked outside the courthouse before the blast. Darren Weldon pleaded not guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, a Meath man, Darren Weldon, 45, is on trial for alleged IRA membership. The prosecution presented DNA evidence linking him to a number plate found in debris from a car bomb outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Weldon, of Drinadaly, Trim, pleaded not guilty on 14 October 2014. Evidence also showed his Mazda 6 was stolen from his Dundrum driveway in January 2010, and that he was seen in conversation with Alan Ryan and Declan Smith in April 2012. The case is heard before Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Darren Weldon, a 45‑year‑old from Drinadaly, Trim, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking him to a car registration plate found among the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The plate, belonging to a Republic of Ireland vehicle, was discovered 28 metres from the crater. Crime scene surveyor Alison Gilbert produced a map of the scene, indicating the plate's location. Sergeant Alistair Paterson of the PSNI testified that he had observed a Mazda 6 parked suspiciously against the courthouse gates on the day of the explosion, noted its Irish registration, and later heard the blast while cordoning the area. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, continues with Mr Weldon pleading not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, it was reported that a car with a Republic of Ireland number plate was parked outside Newry courthouse minutes before a bomb exploded there on 22 February 2010. Darren Weldon, 45, of Drinadaly, Trim, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution presented DNA evidence linking Weldon to the car's registration plate found in the blast debris. Witness statements, including those of Gerard Traynor and Dermot Butler, described the car's suspicious presence and the timing of the explosion.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking Darren Weldon, 45, to the February 2010 bomb blast outside Newry courthouse. The prosecution argued that a suspicious vehicle parked outside the courthouse was a stolen Mazda from Dundrum, and that its registration plate, found after the explosion, bore DNA matching a swab taken from Weldon's DNA while in custody on 14 October 2014. Witnesses described phone calls warning of a bomb and the timing of the explosion at 10:55 pm. Weldon, who denied IRA membership, had previously been arrested in September 2012 for suspected IRA membership after attending Alan Ryan's funeral. The court also heard from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan regarding his belief about Weldon's involvement. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne present. Darren Weldon pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Padraig O'Callaghan to Northern Ireland to serve the remainder of a custodial sentence. In April 2014, O'Callaghan, of Crossmaglen, County Armagh, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at Newry Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman in Newry on December 11, 2011. He also faced charges of false imprisonment and robbery, for which he has already served time. Counsel for the Minister of Justice and Equality stated that O'Callaghan is sought solely for the rape offence, with three years and ninety days remaining on his sentence. O'Callaghan, who was arrested in May 2016, testified that he had received legal advice and consented to his surrender. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly confirmed his awareness of the consequences of serving his sentence under Northern Irish conditions. The judge ordered that O'Callaghan be detained for a period not exceeding twenty days to facilitate the extradition. An application for legal aid was subsequently granted.
Tom "Slab" Murphy, born August 1949 in Ballybinaby, Co. Louth, is alleged to have been a former Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA and to have run a cross‑border smuggling operation from his family farm that straddled the Republic‑Northern Ireland border. Court documents and affidavits from the Criminal Assets Bureau, Gardaí, customs and PSNI describe how the farm, which Murphy inherited in 1968, was used to smuggle pigs, cattle, fuel and oil between the two jurisdictions. The operation involved large storage tanks, underground tanks, and concealed dispensing machines that allowed fuel to be moved across the border. Affidavits also report the discovery of €256,245 and £111,185 in cash and cheques during a 2006 raid. Murphy has pursued libel actions against the Sunday Times, but the court found against him in both 1990 and 1998 trials. The case highlights the alleged scale of the smuggling enterprise and the legal challenges faced by authorities.
Michael Coleman, 34, a convicted robber, was sentenced to 18 months in custody for an unprovoked assault on two Louth brothers, Christopher and Joseph Lennon, on 26 June 2014. The attack occurred on Camden Street, Dublin, while Coleman was on bail for a prior robbery. He called Christopher a "culchie," punched him, and then joined in attacking Joseph, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground, causing Joseph to lose consciousness. The brothers had been drinking at Flannery's pub and were heading home when the incident happened. Joseph Lennon suffered a broken jaw on both sides, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth; he also experiences flashbacks. Coleman had 25 prior convictions, including robbery and firearms offences. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his cooperation and attempts to address drug issues. The 18‑month sentence will commence after his current five‑year term ends.
Shane Ferguson, a 47‑year‑old carpenter from Limerick, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2014 for transporting over €1 million worth of cannabis from Northern Ireland to a cottage in rural Limerick. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. The drugs, 52.2 kg with a street value of €1,045,148, were moved by a navy transit van hired by Ferguson, who drove it from Newry to Limerick, paying tolls and being tracked on the motorway. An accomplice swapped vehicles and moved the boxes into the cottage. Gardaí seized the boxes, which bore a UPS sticker, and traced the shipment's route from Eindhoven to Newtownabbey to Poyntzpass. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced Ferguson's sentence by one year, from seven to six years, while his co‑accused remained at five years. The new six‑year term takes effect from the original sentencing date.
The Special Criminal Court granted bail to Darren Weldon, a 43‑year‑old resident of Drinadaly, Trim, who was arrested on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the February 22, 2010 bomb attack on Newry courthouse. Weldon was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on October 14. His counsel, Philipp Rahn BL, applied for bail, and the court, presided over by Justice Deirdre Murphy, Justice Margaret Heneghan and Judge Cormac Dunne, accepted the application without objection from the State. Bail conditions include daily reporting to a local Garda station, surrendering his passport, providing his mobile phone number to Gardaí and maintaining good behaviour. The court noted that the book of evidence will be served at a later date. Detective Garda Kieran Regan, who formally arrested Weldon on Mellowes Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, stated that at the time of arrest he believed Weldon had committed the offence.
Darren Weldon, aged 43, was arrested by the Special Detective Unit on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the February 22, 2010 bomb attack on Newry Courthouse. The attack involved a large car bomb that exploded outside the courthouse, damaging its gate while police were evacuating the area. Weldon, who lives at Drinadaly, Trim, Co Meath, was charged this morning before the non‑jury Special Criminal Court with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He appeared in court wearing a grey cardigan and jeans and denied ever being a member of the IRA. The court, presided over by Justice Garrett Sheehan with Justice Deirdre Murphy and Judge Margaret Heneghan, remanded Weldon in custody to appear again on October 21. The case is pending further hearings, with potential applications for bail and legal aid expected.