Court archive
Court reports mentioning Newtownbutler, Fermanagh
2024-10-14 · Fermanagh
Two men from County Cavan have received suspended sentences at the Special Criminal Court for assisting the Continuity IRA in connection with a purported attack on Enniskillen police station in March 2021. Desmond Smith, aged 65, of Kilnavara Crescent, and Stephen Hamill, aged 52, of Gortnakesh, both pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to an organisation styling itself the IRA in furtherance of an unlawful object. The attack went unnoticed until media calls prompted a search near the station, which recovered an improvised "slam gun" device. Justice Tony Hunt noted the defendants were "surprising candidates" for such involvement, both lacking relevant previous convictions. He imposed a four-year sentence on Hamill, suspended for four years on condition of a €100 bond, and sentenced Smith to two years nine months, suspended for three years. Both men undertook to disassociate themselves from criminal and paramilitary organisations.
2024-07-17 · Cavan
The appeal of Desmond Smith and Stephen Hamill, who admitted to knowingly rendering assistance to an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on March 13 and March 18, 2021, was heard in the Special Criminal Court. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges and are appealing for a non-custodial sentence, having pledged to have no further association with paramilitary organisations. Their legal representatives argued that their clients were at the 'lower level of the organisation' and expressed remorse for their actions. Counsel for both men highlighted their clients' personal circumstances, including Smith's medical conditions and family ties in Australia, and Hamill's role as a chef, musician, and father, as well as his community contributions. The court heard that an improvised 'slam gun' was discovered near Enniskillen police station following a search, and that phone calls purporting to be from the Continuity IRA were made to media outlets in the North and Border region. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the matter to October 14 for sentencing.
2022-09-07 · Leitrim
Corina Short was fined a total of €500 for driving without insurance and a valid driving licence following a minor road traffic collision on September 7, 2021. She failed to produce the required documents within 10 days as promised and subsequently became difficult with gardaí, claiming she would not need to produce documents if the accident had occurred in Northern Ireland. She was disqualified from driving for two years.