A 26‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason Keating of Lower Main Street, Rush, Co. Dublin, is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan, aged 62, who was killed outside his house on St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on 22 December 2016. At a brief hearing in which Keating was excused, a State solicitor informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had applied for Keating to be tried before the Special Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Cormac Dunne and Ann Ryan, granted the order for a non‑jury trial.
Four men appeared before an out-of-term sitting of the Special Criminal Court on charges arising from the death of Peter Butterly. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Michael McDermott, aged fifty-eight, from Ballinagh, County Cavan, faces a murder charge alongside allegations of membership of an unlawful organisation and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Laurence Murphy, aged sixty, and Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, both from Bettystown, County Meath, are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. Frank Murphy additionally faces murder and firearm possession charges. Ray Kennedy, aged thirty-eight, from Dublin, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. All four were remanded in custody pending their return to the Special Criminal Court on 14 September.
A 40‑year‑old woman, Regina Keogh of Avondale House, Cumberland Street North, has been charged with the murder of Gareth Hutch on 24 May 2016. She appeared before the Special Criminal Court, a three‑judge, non‑jury court, where Judge Tony Hunt tentatively set her trial for 25 June. Her defence solicitor, Patrick Gageby SC, requested the case be mentioned again on 6 October. Separately, a 32‑year‑old man, Jonathan Keogh of Gloucester Place, is also charged with Hutch's murder and will be tried by the same court, with the case to be mentioned again next Friday.
Darren Gleeson, 35, a Dublin father of one, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army on 18 May 2017. He was remanded in custody after the alleged offence and applied for bail on 31 August 2017. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected the bail application. The court cited a probable flight risk and noted that both Gleeson's daughter's mother and his own mother offered €3,000 each for bail. Gleeson remains in custody until 4 October for the production of evidence.
Kevin Braney, a Dublin man living at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, was arrested last week on charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He applied for bail, but the Special Criminal Court refused it. The court cited concerns that Braney could be a flight risk and might interfere with witnesses. Detective Inspector Nigel Mulready argued that Braney's release could lead to further serious offences, while Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire supported the objection under Section 2A of the Bail Act, stating that preventing interference with witnesses was a "very live and real concern." Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Gerard Haughton, agreed and refused bail on that basis alone. Braney was remanded in custody until 5 October, when his case will be mentioned again. He was required to appear in person, as the court deemed the video‑link system inadequate.
Two Dublin men, Kevin Braney and Ciaran Maguire (29), appeared before an out‑of‑term sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 3 August 2017. Both were charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Braney, whose address is Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, was arrested at 5:41 pm by Detective Garda Colm Finnerty outside Finglas Garda Station. Finnerty informed him he would be brought before the court, detained him, transported him to the Special Criminal Court, and presented the charge sheet; Braney made no reply and remained seated when asked to stand. Maguire, of Kippure Park, Finglas, was arrested at 5:42 pm by Detective Garda Ronan Judge, who also believed the offence had been committed. Judge Finnerty transported him to the court, handed him the charge sheet, and Maguire likewise made no reply and stayed seated.
Vincent Banks, aged 47, from Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The conviction follows his trial regarding the purchase of a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012. Mr Black was killed in a drive-by shooting on the M1 near Lurgan, County Armagh. The vehicle was subsequently found burnt out in a ditch near Carrigallen, County Leitrim, with firearm cartridges connected to the death recovered from inside. Banks had denied the charge, maintaining he knew nothing of Mr Black or the vehicle. However, the court accepted evidence from Chief Superintendent Gerry Russell regarding Banks' membership and found his conduct surrounding the car's purchase surreptitious. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, noted that inferences could be drawn from Banks' failure to answer material questions during garda interviews. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 9 October.
Larry McCarthy, aged 37, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of violent disorder and assault causing harm. The violent disorder charge stemmed from an incident on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick, where McCarthy, along with two others, threatened to use "unlawful violence" and assaulted David Foran, a cyclist who had been involved in a minor road accident with a motorcyclist. Foran was stabbed in the leg with a knife and struck on the head with a baseball bat. McCarthy pleaded not guilty to the assault but was found guilty. He received a six‑year sentence for violent disorder and a three‑year sentence for assault causing harm, both to run concurrently and back‑dated to 30 July 2015. The court noted the use of a knife and bat as aggravating factors and limited mitigating circumstances. The sentences were imposed by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, aged 36 and residing on Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, applied for the non‑jury court to dismiss a murder charge. The charge concerns the killing of David Douglas, 55, on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, on 1 July last year. Michael O'Higgins SC represented Thompson, while Sean Gillane SC represented the prosecution. Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, announced that the court would rule on the application on 31 August.
A three-judge panel at the Special Criminal Court will deliver its verdict on Monday in the trial of a Dublin man accused of membership of an unlawful organisation. Vincent Banks (47), of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution alleged that Mr Banks purchased a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting of Northern Irish prison officer David Black in November 2012. The State presented evidence that the vehicle was later parked in Carrigallen, County Leitrim, near the border. The defence contended that the evidence was insufficient and that purchasing a car does not constitute activity uniquely associated with unlawful organisation membership. Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton, will deliver judgment on 31 July.
Larry McCarthy, 37, was found guilty of assaulting David Foran, 33, by stabbing him in the leg during a dispute over compensation for a road accident. The incident occurred on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick, after a motorcyclist offered Foran €5,500 and directed him to meet McCarthy. McCarthy, present in the car park, challenged Foran and stabbed him with a knife. Foran suffered a puncture wound to his left thigh, treated at University Hospital Limerick. McCarthy had previously been arrested on 4 March 2015 for violent disorder and had eight prior convictions, including dangerous driving and firearm offences in the UK. He was remanded in custody until 31 July, when he will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court. The court noted that Foran made a full recovery and declined a victim impact statement. The sentencing hearing was presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton. Larry McCarthy pleaded not guilty. David Foran pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges will decide on Monday whether garda interviews of Vincent Banks, 47, can be admitted as evidence. Banks, who lives in Dublin 7, is accused of IRA membership and of buying the car used in the fatal shooting of prison officer David Black, 52, on 1 November 2012. Black was driving to Maghaberry prison when he was shot. Banks pleaded not guilty to the membership charge on 18 December 2012. Defence and prosecution counsel presented arguments during a voir dire to aid the judges' decision.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Larry McCarthy Jnr, aged 37, was found not guilty of two charges: threatening to kill Noel Moore, aged 74, and threatening to damage Moore's property at Windsor House, Donoughmore, Limerick. McCarthy Jnr denied the allegations, claiming he did not threaten anyone and that CCTV footage would show he did nothing to anyone. The prosecution alleged that on 28 July 2015 McCarthy Jnr visited Moore's house and said, "I'm going to fucking shoot you" and "I'm going to get my buddies to burn your house to the ground." The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that while McCarthy Jnr had initiated an aggressive confrontation and was an unwelcome visitor, the court could not be satisfied that the threat to shoot constituted a threat to kill. He also found insufficient evidence that the threat included a specific intent to burn Moore's house. Consequently, McCarthy Jnr was acquitted of both charges.
At the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that a Toyota Camry allegedly used in the November 2012 fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black was purchased under an assumed name. A vehicle dealer testified that a man identifying himself as Paul McCann bought the car on October 10th, 2012. The prosecution contends that Vincent Banks, aged 47, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin, was connected to the purchase, citing a thumbprint found on the registration document. The court heard that a Carrigallen resident in County Leitrim reported seeing a matching black Toyota Camry parked near her home the following day and contacted gardaí. Banks has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton, continues before the Special Criminal Court.
Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, aged 36 and residing on Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, has applied to the Special Criminal Court to have a murder charge dismissed. The charge concerns the killing of David Douglas, 55, on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, on 1 July last year. Mr Thompson's solicitor, Michael O'Higgins SC, presented the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the fingerprint of Vincent Banks, a 47‑year‑old accused of IRA membership, was found on the registration certificate of a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting of prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012. Black, a 52‑year‑old father of two, was shot while driving to work at Maghaberry prison. Banks, who lives in Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army on 18 December 2012. The car was registered to a man named Paul McCann at an address on Rathgar Road, Rathmines, but the landlord said no tenant bore that name; the registration letter was addressed to McCann. The vehicle was purchased from a previous owner in Tallaght on 10 October, and the buyer signed the certificate with his left hand while placing his right hand on it.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Larry McCarthy Jnr, aged 39, faced charges of threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's property at Windsor House, Donoughmore, Limerick. The allegations stem from an incident on 28 July 2015, when Moore, a 74‑year‑old market stall‑holder, claimed he saw McCarthy Jnr, described as red‑haired, running across his garden and shouting threats. Moore testified that McCarthy Jnr said, "I'm going to fucking shoot you" and "I'm going to get my buddies to burn your house to the ground." McCarthy Jnr pleaded not guilty to both counts. The prosecution, represented by Ms Diana Stuart BL, cited ongoing family difficulties between the Moore and McCarthy families as context. Defence counsel was retired judge Mr Barry White SC. The three‑judge panel, led by Justice Tony Hunt, remanded McCarthy Jnr in custody pending a verdict scheduled for next Friday. The court will deliver its judgment on that day.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court trial, the State finished giving evidence against Larry McCarthy Jnr, 39, of Limerick, charged with threatening to kill 74‑year‑old Noel Moore and to damage Moore's Windsor House property. McCarthy Jnr pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Diana Stuart BL presented evidence that Moore saw a red‑haired man—McCarthy Jnr—running across his garden, shouting threats to shoot him and burn his house. Moore testified that he believed McCarthy Jnr could carry out the threats. McCarthy Jnr's Garda interviews were read, revealing he claimed the Moore family had damaged his door and that he had spoken to Moore about involving the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. CCTV footage was sought but found to be unavailable for the relevant time. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that Vincent Banks's arrest on 18 December 2012 for alleged IRA membership was lawful. Banks, 47, had previously been arrested in September 2012 for the same alleged offence and released without charge. Defence lawyers challenged the legality of the second arrest under Section 30(A) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, arguing that a repeat arrest without a warrant was unlawful. The court, hearing evidence from the Special Detective Unit, found that the September and December investigations were separate and that the earlier release did not affect the later arrest. Justice Isobel Kennedy therefore concluded the December arrest was lawful. Following the ruling, Banks's counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, said his client would not contest some prosecution evidence, and the trial was adjourned to Monday. Vincent Banks pleaded not guilty.
Larry McCarthy Jnr, 37, is on trial before the Special Criminal Court for threatening to kill Noel Moore and to burn Moore's house, Windsor House, Limerick, on 28 July 2015. McCarthy pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Diana Stuart BL argued that the threats stemmed from family disputes, noting that McCarthy's sister is married to Moore's son. Moore, 74, testified that he saw McCarthy, described as red‑haired, running across his garden and that McCarthy shouted, "I'm going to fucking shoot you" and "I'm going to get my buddies to burn your house to the ground." Moore said he believed McCarthy could carry out the threat. Defence counsel Barry White SC cross‑examined Moore, challenging the claim that McCarthy had threatened to shoot him, but Moore maintained the threat. Garda Niall Fitzgerald reported seeing Moore shaking and distressed on the day.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges will decide tomorrow on the legality of the arrest of Vincent Banks, a 47‑year‑old Dublin man accused of IRA membership. Banks, who allegedly bought the car later used in the fatal shooting of 52‑year‑old prison officer David Black, has pleaded not guilty to the membership charge. Defence lawyers argue the arrest was unlawful, while prosecution counsel maintains it was lawful. The court is conducting a voir dire to determine the issue, with Justice Isobel Kennedy presiding alongside Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Larry McCarthy Jnr, aged 37, was charged with threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's property at Windsor House. McCarthy Jnr pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Diana Stuart presented evidence that the alleged threats occurred on 28 July 2015 when McCarthy Jnr allegedly ran across Moore's garden and shouted threats while Moore was inside his home. Moore testified that McCarthy Jnr shouted that he would shoot him and that he would have Moore's house burned to the ground. Moore also claimed McCarthy Jnr said his son had threatened Moore's father. McCarthy Jnr's father, Larry McCarthy Snr, gave evidence that his son had left the house after a phone call with his daughter. The trial continues before Judges Tony Hunt, Martin Nolan and Flann Brennan.
A Luth man has been sentenced to three years in prison following his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation. Michael Connolly, aged 45, of Dundalk, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership of the IRA. The three-judge, non-jury court heard evidence that Connolly had travelled in convoy with another individual in the Ardee area on December 16th, 2014. The second man was subsequently stopped and found in possession of two improvised explosive devices. Telephone contact between the two men was also established. During sentencing, the presiding judge described the operation as "very well-planned" and noted the sophisticated nature of the devices recovered. The court considered Connolly's employment history and family circumstances as mitigating factors, whilst treating the apparent purpose behind his involvement as an aggravating consideration. Connolly had previously denied the charge.
Three Dublin men—Jonathan Hawthorn, 44, of Ballintyre Downs; James Geraghty, 60, of Dolphin House; and Donal O'Ceallaigh, 32, of Beach Road—are charged with membership in the Irish Republican Army. They were arrested on 14 September 2016 and remanded on continuing bail. Their trial in the Special Criminal Court is scheduled for 2 July 2018 and is expected to last three weeks.
A 37‑year‑old Limerick man, Larry McCarthy, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of assaulting 33‑year‑old David Foran on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy had pleaded not guilty to both the assault and to threatening to use "unlawful violence" with two others at the same place and date, but the court found him guilty of both offences. The trial recounted that Foran had been knocked down by a motorcyclist on 14 November 2014, who later offered him €5,000 and directed him to meet McCarthy in Limerick town. Foran testified that McCarthy struck him with a baseball bat, beat him, stabbed his leg with a knife and tried to remove his vest. The judge remanded McCarthy in custody until 24 July, when sentencing will occur.
The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has applied to the Special Criminal Court for transcripts of the court's appearances concerning Adrian Crevan Mackin, who shot Garda Anthony Golden in 2015 and then committed suicide. GSOC says a "public interest investigation" has been launched after complaints about the nature of interactions between Gardaí and Mackin before and after his January 2015 arrest. Counsel Ronan Kennedy requested transcripts of the twelve occasions Mackin's case was mentioned, noting that Mackin had been granted bail on a 100‑Euro bond and a 5,000‑Euro surety. The court was told Mackin was charged with membership of the IRA and that the DPP did not oppose the application but questioned the court's jurisdiction, suggesting the request should go to the High Court. The court will rule on the application on Wednesday. The case involves Mackin's 25‑year‑old status and the fatal shooting of Garda Golden on 11 October 2015 in Omeath, Co. Louth.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Larry McCarthy, aged 37, faces a verdict on an assault charge. He is accused of threatening "unlawful violence" and physically assaulting David Foran, 33, on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy denies both the assault and the threat, pleading not guilty. Foran, who had earlier been knocked down by a motorcyclist and received compensation, identified McCarthy as the assailant in statements to Gardaí. The prosecution, led by John Byrne BL, argues Foran's statements are reliable, citing his signed declaration and a second statement that elaborated on McCarthy's identity. Defence counsel Barry White SC contends Foran's testimony is unreliable, pointing to inconsistencies such as unsubstantiated injuries and missing phone records. White also criticises the Garda investigation for lacking site examination and documentation. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, will deliver its judgment on Monday, 3 July.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution closed its case against Larry McCarthy, 37, who was accused of assaulting David Foran, 33, on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick. McCarthy, who lives at Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, denied both the assault and the allegation that he and two others threatened to use "unlawful violence" at the same place and date. Foran had earlier been knocked down and offered compensation by a motorcyclist. Detective Garda Gerard Healy testified that Foran identified McCarthy as the man who stabbed him, describing him as "stocky with red hair" and "unshaven." The defence argued that the absence of a video recording of Foran's statement handicapped their case, and that the detective had not asked whether the Larry McCarthy described was the one living in Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy denied any involvement. The prosecution announced that it had closed its case, while the trial continues before Ms Justice Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton. Larry McCarthy pleaded not guilty.
Dylan Cahill, aged 24, of Lower Irishtown, Clonmel, County Tipperary, received a six-year sentence at the Special Criminal Court following guilty pleas to weapons and explosives charges. On 13 May 2015, gardaí conducting traffic enforcement stopped a vehicle near Glefarne, County Leitrim after reports of fuel theft. A search of the maroon Volkswagen Passat uncovered a plastic shopping bag containing a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of matching ammunition, and two improvised explosive devices. Cahill, the driver, pleaded guilty to possession of the firearm and ammunition, and to possession of the pipe-bombs at the same location. During interview, he stated he was unaware of the weapon's intended purpose. Gardaí assessed the items were being transported in connection with IRA activities. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with two colleagues, imposed concurrent sentences of six years, with the final year suspended, on each count.
A 44-year-old man from County Monaghan has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court following his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Jim Smyth, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, was convicted last month of the offence alleged to have occurred on 25 November 2015. During trial, the three-judge court heard evidence that Smyth had been using his own land and property belonging to his mother-in-law at Knockatallon for dissident republican activity. Gardaí from the Special Detective Unit and Crime and Security conducted a search of lands surrounding derelict houses in the area. Interviews with Smyth were conducted under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, which permits inference to be drawn from a suspect's refusal to answer questions regarding alleged IRA membership. While Smyth denied membership in response to certain questions, he declined to answer regarding specific items recovered following his arrest. Justice Isobel Kennedy imposed the custodial sentence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old David Foran claimed that on 25 November 2014, after a traffic incident, he was assaulted by Larry McCarthy (37) and others at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick. Foran said McCarthy stabbed him in the leg with a knife and that the assailants tried to remove his bulletproof vest. He alleged that McCarthy and two other men threatened to use "unlawful violence" and that they had been involved in a dispute over compensation money following a motorcyclist's knock‑down. McCarthy, who lives at Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, has pleaded not guilty to the assault charge. The court accepted Foran's statements as reliable after the prosecution demonstrated inconsistencies with earlier Garda statements. The case will continue before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, David Foran, aged 33, testified that he does not know who stabbed him. Foran, who was cycling to his mother's house on 14 November 2014, was knocked down by a motorcyclist. Two days later the motorcyclist offered to settle the incident out of court, proposing €5,000 compensation. Foran met the motorcyclist's associate at Cornmarket Villas on 25 November 2014. He described being surrounded by six or seven people, receiving a slap to the back of his head with a baseball bat, falling, and then being stabbed in the leg. Foran could not identify the assailant or describe his appearance. The prosecution alleges that Larry McCarthy, aged 37, was among those who threatened to use "unlawful violence" and assaulted Foran, but McCarthy has pleaded not guilty. The case remains before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Limerick man, Larry McCarthy, 37, pleaded not guilty to assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas. The prosecution alleged that McCarthy, along with two others, threatened to use "unlawful violence" and that McCarthy stabbed Foran in the leg while he was beaten. Foran, who had been knocked down by a motorcyclist earlier that month, had initially refused a €5,000 compensation offer from the motorcyclist but later agreed to meet at Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy allegedly challenged Foran over the money demand. Foran was wearing a bullet‑proof vest at the time of the assault. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton. The case remains pending.
A 24-year-old man from County Tipperary pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing two pipe-bombs, a pistol, and ammunition discovered during a traffic stop in County Leitrim in May 2015. Dylan Cahill of Clonmel admitted charges relating to a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and two improvised explosive devices found at Sradrine, Glefarne. Gardaí conducting traffic duties stopped the vehicle after reports it had left a filling station without paying for fuel. A search of the car revealed the weapons and explosives in a shopping bag on the front passenger seat. Detective Garda Derek Bonar told the court that gardaí believed the items were being transported in connection with IRA activities. Cahill's co-accused, John Burke, previously pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court and received a three-and-a-half-year sentence with six months suspended. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with two other judges, remanded Cahill in custody pending sentencing on 26 June.
A 44-year-old man from Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan, was convicted last month by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Jim Smyth was found guilty of the offence on 25 November 2015. During the three-judge, non-jury trial, evidence was heard from Chief Superintendent Christopher Mangan regarding his belief that Smyth was an IRA member on the date in question. Gardaí from the Special Detective Unit and Crime and Security conducted a search of land at Knockatallon, County Monaghan, which the court heard was being used for IRA activities. Detective Sergeant Gerard O'Doherty told the court that Smyth was considered instrumental in that activity. During interviews under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, Smyth denied IRA membership in response to certain questions but declined to answer others regarding specific items found following his arrest. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, adjourned sentencing to 26 June 2017.
Two brothers from Claremorris in County Mayo have been sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court, with the final two and a half years suspended. Colin Mannion, aged 37, and Brian Mannion, aged 34, of Burriscarra, Clogher, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of explosive substances including RDX, PETN, detonators and electrical components discovered at their home on 9 June 2012. Charges of membership of an unlawful organisation were not proceeded with. The court heard that gardaí found materials and equipment consistent with bomb manufacturing in a metal container in a shed on the property. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted the men had relevant professional qualifications and skills. Mitigation factors included their guilty pleas, limited involvement of two to three months, good character prior to the offences, and sworn undertakings to refrain from subversive activities. The sentence was backdated to 7 June 2017.
Mairtin Manning, 22, a relative of former Lord Mayor Christy Burke, was granted bail after being charged with knowingly possessing four kilograms of TNT and an RGD33 grenade head in Dublin's city centre. He faces a charge of possessing an explosive substance. His co‑accused, Declan McDermott, 28, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army. The Special Criminal Court, hearing the case on 14 June 2017, denied the State's objections based on flight‑risk concerns under the O'Callaghan principles. Both men were released on bail with strict conditions: they must provide their dates of birth, surrender passports, sign twice daily at Garda Station, observe a curfew, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, and not attend Republican gatherings. Manning must live on Ballybough Road and may only associate with certain relatives; McDermott must reside with his partner and mother at Buckingham Street.
Two brothers from Claremorris, County Mayo, have pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of explosive substances discovered during a garda raid on their home in June 2012. Colin Mannion, aged 37, and Brian Mannion, aged 34, of Burriscarra, Clogher, admitted possessing RDX, PETN, detonators, and electronic components found in a shed on their property. The men face additional charges of membership of an unlawful organisation. Armed gardaí executed a search warrant and found the brothers in the shed, where audio-visual surveillance had previously been conducted. Evidence presented at sentence hearing included fingerprints, recorded footage, and expert analysis confirming the explosive nature of recovered materials. Both men have given undertakings to the court against future involvement in such activities. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with two other judges, remanded both men in custody pending sentencing. Their legal representatives sought leniency, citing guilty pleas and limited duration of involvement.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 June 2017, Mairtin Manning was charged with knowingly possessing an explosive substance, specifically ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade, found at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3. Declan McDermott was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Both men were arrested outside Clontarf Garda Station under the Offences Against the State Act and were directed to appear at the next court sitting. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Flann Brennan and Gerard Haughton, remanded both Manning and McDermott in custody for a hearing on 9 June. An application for bail is expected on 12 June. The former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke, attended the brief hearing with the men's families and supporters.
A 44-year-old man from County Monaghan has been convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army by the Special Criminal Court. Jim Smyth, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, had pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to November 25, 2015. The three-judge court heard evidence that Smyth was using his own land and land belonging to his mother-in-law at Knockatallon for dissident activity. Chief Superintendent Christopher Mangan gave evidence of his belief that Smyth was an IRA member on the date in question. Detective Sergeant Gerard O'Doherty testified that he encountered Smyth on the laneway near derelict houses during a search operation and subsequently arrested him. During garda interviews conducted under the Offences Against the State Act, Smyth declined to answer numerous questions regarding specific items discovered after his arrest. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, said the court accepted Chief Superintendent Mangan's evidence and was entitled to draw inferences from Smyth's failure to answer material questions. Smyth was remanded in custody pending sentencing on June 19.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years' imprisonment for the false imprisonment and threat to kill of Anthony Hurley. The court found that Dowdall, who claimed to be an IRA member, had tied Hurley to a chair, waterboarded him and threatened to "chop him up" and "feed him to the dogs". Patrick Dowdall, the former councillor's father, received an eight‑year sentence for his role in the offence. Both sentences run concurrently and were back‑dated to 17 May 2016. The court noted the case involved a "Newton hearing" to resolve factual disputes after the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. The sentencing was based on the evidence of the ordeal, the video footage, and the defendants' admissions. The court emphasised the seriousness of the offences and the impact on the victim.
A 44-year-old man from Dundalk in County Louth has been convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army by the Special Criminal Court. Michael Connolly, of Grange Drive, was found guilty following a trial before three judges. The court heard evidence that Connolly was observed driving in convoy with another man in the Ardee area on December 16th, 2014. Both vehicles travelled together to Mullingar, where the other man was found in possession of two improvised explosive devices. The judges accepted belief evidence from a Garda assistant commissioner regarding Connolly's membership and found he was a willing and knowing participant in the enterprise. The court drew inferences from Connolly's silence when questioned on specific matters, finding this corroborated other evidence. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on July 10th.
Brian Kenna, a former member of a Provisional IRA gang, was involved in a bank robbery in Enniscorthy on 1 May 1990. The gang, consisting of seven raiders armed with shotguns, pistols, a revolver and replica guns, held up the AIB branch at Slaney Place. Gardai were alerted by a bank official and four uniformed officers arrived, armed with an Uzi submachine gun and revolvers issued by Superintendent Michael Murphy. During the confrontation, the raiders fired three shots at the gardai, who returned fire and seriously injured the driver of the getaway van. Kenna pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery, use of a firearm to resist arrest, and robbery of over €5,000. He was convicted along with five others, each receiving a ten‑year sentence, while a sixth man received twelve years due to a prior firearms conviction. The trial took place at the Special Criminal Court in Green Street.
Three men from Cork—Joseph Walsh (36), Michael Gilmartin (46), and Sean Walsh (50)—are set to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court for alleged membership in the Irish Republican Army. Walsh and Gilmartin face additional charges of possessing firearms, including a 9mm pistol, a sawn‑off shotgun, and ammunition, seized from Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, on 14 December 2016. All three were arrested in December 2016 and remanded in custody. The court scheduled their trial for 12 February 2018, expecting it to last four weeks.
Two brothers from Claremorris, County Mayo, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court on 26 May 2017 to unlawful possession of explosives. Colin Mannion, aged 36, and Brian Mannion, aged 34, both of Burriscarra, Clogher, admitted to possessing RDX, PETN, one loaded detonator, two unloaded detonators, and three electrical component parts at their home address on 9 June 2012. The brothers face a separate charge of membership of an unlawful organisation on the same date. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Flann Brennan, remanded both men on continuing bail. They are due to appear for sentencing on 14 June 2017.
A 44-year-old man from County Louth has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, a charge he denies relates to the Irish Republican Army. Michael Connolly of Dundalk faced trial at the Special Criminal Court, where the prosecution alleged he was observed driving in convoy with another man who was later found in possession of improvised explosive devices. The prosecution's case relied significantly on evidence from a Garda Assistant Commissioner regarding his belief in Mr Connolly's membership status, along with interviews conducted under statutory powers. The defence argued that this evidence lacked independent corroboration and fell short of legal requirements, contending the case should fail. The three-judge court rejected an earlier defence application for a directed acquittal. Judgment is scheduled for delivery on 1 June 2017.
A 44-year-old man from Dundalk, County Louth, will have the Special Criminal Court determine tomorrow whether his trial for alleged IRA membership can proceed. Michael Connolly has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 16 December 2014. The prosecution alleges he was observed by gardaí driving in convoy along the N52 with another man who was later found with two improvised explosive devices. The defence applied today for a direction that the evidence was insufficient, arguing there were defects in the assistant commissioner's opinion underpinning the case and that Mr Connolly's presence at commemorations and demonstrations, or his association with previously convicted individuals, did not necessarily indicate IRA membership. The defence also contended there was no evidence Mr Connolly possessed or knew of the explosive devices. The three-judge court noted the application raised matters of sufficient substance and indicated closing speeches would be heard tomorrow.
Samuel Devlin, 59, from Northern Ireland, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court for unlawful possession of PETN on 11 May 2014 at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan. He was found guilty of being an IRA bomb‑maker and sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 6 April 2016. The trial, lasting three weeks, relied on evidence from the Special Detective Unit, including a warrant obtained at 3.30 am on a Sunday to search the hotel. Three rolls of detonator cord, 26 metres long and containing PETN, were discovered wrapped in a towel inside a laptop bag. Devlin was arrested during the search. He has now appealed his conviction in the Court of Appeal, where the judge has reserved judgment. The appeal challenges the manner in which the search warrant was obtained, the timing of its use, the handling of DNA evidence, and the court's inference that Devlin knew the cords were explosives. Samuel Devlin pleaded not guilty.
James Joseph Cassidy, aged 53 and resident of Tullycollive in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, has been charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The alleged offence occurred on 21 September 2016. At the Special Criminal Court, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy set a trial date of 18 June 2018. Mr Cassidy was remanded on continuing bail pending the commencement of proceedings.
A man from County Monaghan has completed trial at the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Jim Smyth, aged 44, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, has pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to 25 November 2015. During closing arguments, the defence barrister characterised the prosecution case as a farce, arguing his client had legitimate reason to be present on land near his mother-in-law's house on the night in question. The prosecution maintained its case rested on three pillars, including circumstantial evidence and inferences drawn from the accused's refusal to answer certain questions during garda interviews conducted under the Offences Against the State Act. The three-judge panel, presiding judge Justice Isobel Kennedy sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan, will deliver their verdict on 1 June.