Court archive
Alison O'Riordan The Special Criminal Court
2015-02-06 · Dublin
The Special Criminal Court trial of eight men accused of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29, 2013, heard evidence regarding a Garda operation at a used car lot in Clondalkin. Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged charges. Detective Sergeant John Holland testified that the primary purpose of the entry was the preservation of life, following reports of an immediate threat to the safety of the yard's owner by the IRA. The court heard that William Jackson, Darren Murphy, and John Brock were restrained and flexi-cuffed after being removed from a van. Detective Sergeant Donal Prenty stated that pepper spray, cable ties, balaclavas, gloves, and a Glock handgun were found on the premises. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay, and Judge William Hamill.
2015-02-05 · Dublin
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 February 2015, eight men were tried for alleged membership in the Irish Republican Army. The defendants – Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy – all pleaded not guilty. The case centred on a Garda operation on 29 March 2013 at a used‑car lot in Clondalkin, where the men were arrested after a raid that followed an alleged extortion claim involving the owner of Crystal Cars, Jonathan McSharry. Detective Inspector Michael Gibbons testified that he had been informed that McSharry was being extorted by the IRA and that the men were "significant members" of the organisation. Gibbons described the arrest, the handling of McSharry, and the subsequent change in the Garda's perception of the situation. The trial was conducted before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge William Hamill in a non‑jury court. The proceedings remain ongoing.
2015-02-04 · Dublin
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 February 2015, eight men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court heard that on 29 March 2013, members of the Emergency Response Unit entered Crystal Cars, a used‑car lot in Clondalkin, and arrested five men in a portacabin. Garda Detective Sergeant John Kane described the officers' entry, the presence of five men, and the recovery of a lump hammer, balaclavas and cable ties. He said the operation was prompted by confidential information that a man at Crystal Cars was targeted for extortion by the IRA and his life was in danger. Garda Detective Sergeant Gerald Doherty confirmed that he secured the five men, who were identified as Braney, Phelan, Duffy, McNamee and Christie, and that the officers remained until the arrest team arrived.