David Gallagher, 38, of Marley Court, Drogheda, pleaded guilty on 25 May 2014 to possession of explosive substances and devices, including PETN, RDX, a 50‑litre beer keg adapted as a bomb, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, an improvised detonation cord, steel booster tube and time‑and‑power unit. He was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to eight years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, back‑dated to 20 August last year. The court noted that the bomb was armed, completed and ready to be moved, and that Gallagher had no prior convictions of significance. He was observed by detectives transferring the bomb from his van to a red Volkswagen Passat, where it was found. Gallagher gave evidence that he had no intention of future involvement in republican military activity and applied for transfer from Portlaise to Castlerea Prison. The judges considered his lesser role compared with Gareth Mulley, who received ten years' imprisonment.
A Dublin man, Robert Day, aged 54, was charged at an out‑of‑hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The charge was brought under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on 9 October 2015. Detective Garda Leanna Cruise arrested Day at 2.15 pm that afternoon on Londonbridge Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, and transported him to Irishtown Garda Station before presenting him to the Special Criminal Court. In court, Day was shown the original charge sheet and gave no comment. He wore an orange Glasgow Celtic jersey and did not react when asked to stand. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, Judge Ann Ryan and Judge Flann Brennan, remanded Day in custody until Thursday, when a bail application is expected. Barrister Mark Lynam, representing Day, consented to the remand and reserved his position regarding the lawfulness of the arrest.
In the Special Criminal Court, Thomas "Slab" Murphy, aged 66, faces nine tax‑evasion charges for failing to file returns for 1996‑2004. He denies the allegations. A County Meath farmer, who rented land to Murphy and his brothers, testified that he cannot recall the accused ever handing him money, though he began renting in 1997 or 1998. The prosecution, led by Paul Burns SC, presented this testimony. The court also heard from Brid Cannon, a Department of Agriculture employee, who confirmed that Thomas Murphy traded cattle between his own herds and those of Francis and Rosemary and Marie Murphy from 2000 to 2005. Cannon's testimony was supported by John Kearney QC. The trial, which resumed on Tuesday, continued with legal arguments. The case remains ongoing. Thomas Murphy pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin is hearing the trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, who has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging he failed to furnish income returns to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Prosecuting counsel Paul Burns SC alleged that the defendant conducted significant dealings in land and cattle, making payments exceeding €300,000 mostly in cash, yet made no returns to Revenue. The prosecution contends that Murphy received over €100,000 in farming grants from the Department of Agriculture during this period. Evidence from Department of Agriculture officer Niall McKeown confirmed these grant payments to a Thomas Murphy at the defendant's address. Witness Grainne Dalton testified that EU Area Aid applications from 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2004 were signed by a Thomas Murphy at that address. However, defending counsel John Kearney QC challenged the evidence, noting that the witness could not forensically confirm the defendant held the documents or penned the signatures. Kearney stated it is not accepted that the defendant had any part in creating or submitting the documentation. The matter is currently at the trial stage and continues.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, is ongoing at the Special Criminal Court. The accused has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits, or gains, or the source thereof, to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC stated that the case arises from a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The prosecution alleges that although Murphy conducted significant dealings in land and cattle trading, he made no returns to Revenue. Burns told the three-judge, non-jury court that Murphy applied for and received a herd number from the Department of Agriculture, subsequently obtaining grants exceeding €100,000. The prosecution further alleges that Murphy made substantial cash payments, mostly in cash or via third-party cheques, totalling over €300,000 for renting land and purchasing silage. Burns asserted that Murphy had access to significant sources of cash to facilitate these payments and engaged in cattle trading at various markets involving sums well into six figures. The matter is currently at the trial stage, and the proceedings continue.
Prominent republican Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, pleaded not guilty to nine alleged tax offences at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The charges, stemming from a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, allege that Murphy failed to furnish returns of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Murphy was originally returned for trial from Dundalk District Court in 2008, a decision he challenged at the High Court, which ruled his rights had been breached but allowed the trial to proceed. During the thirty-minute hearing, defence counsel Mr John Kearney QC applied for an adjournment, citing "rolling disclosure" that prevented the defence from accessing thousands of pages of material. Kearney argued the delay would allow both sides to assess admissibility, potentially excluding significant evidence. Prosecuting counsel Mr Paul Burns SC agreed to the adjournment, noting recent disclosure volume, while expressing hope that the trial could conclude within the allocated three weeks. Presiding with Judges O'Hagan and Ryan, Mr Justice Paul Butler adjourned the trial until Thursday. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Belfast man Kevin Hannaway, aged 67, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court pending trial for allegedly assisting the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He and four co‑accused were arrested on 8 August 2015 in an operation targeting dissident republican activity in the Dublin region. Hannaway was charged on 10 August 2015 with knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA on 7 and 8 August. His co‑accused, Edward O'Brien (41), Eva Shannon (59), David Nooney (52) and Seán Hannaway (47), faced similar charges. The court imposed conditions including €100 bonds, residence requirements, daily curfews, provision of mobile phones to Gardaí, and restrictions on contact with witnesses and other charged persons. Additional sureties of €15,000 and €10,500 were posted for O'Brien and Nooney. The bail remains in force until 3 November 2015, when the book of evidence is expected to be served.
Kevin Hannaway, 67, a Belfast man linked to the "Hooded Men", appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday, 10 August 2015. He was charged with knowingly assisting the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 7 and 8 August 2015, an unlawful organisation. Hannaway, along with four co‑accused—Edward O'Brien (41), Eva Shannon (59), David Nooney (52) and Sean Hannaway (47)—were arrested on Saturday afternoon during a Garda operation targeting dissident republican activity in the Dublin region. The operation involved the Garda Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit and Crime and Security Branch. The court remanded all five accused in custody, with a subsequent hearing scheduled for 17 August 2015. The case is part of a broader effort to address the detention of the "Hooded Men" during the Troubles and their appeal for a revision of a 1978 European Court of Human Rights judgement.
Ryan Glennon, a 24‑year‑old Dublin resident, was charged by the Special Criminal Court with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 13 May 2015. He was arrested by the Special Detective Unit during an operation targeting dissident republicans in Dublin. The three‑judge court granted him bail on consent, imposing several conditions: a €12,000 surety, a personal bond of €100, surrender of passport and travel documents, daily reporting to a local Garda station, a daily curfew, residence at a specified address, and exclusive use of a single mobile phone kept on at all times. He must not leave the jurisdiction, avoid Wexford, refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses, associate only with his legal team, and avoid contact with other charged or convicted persons. The court also remanded him in custody with consent to bail until 27 October.
Brian Fitzpatrick, 49, of Castleross, Dundalk, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing two complete Improvised Explosive Devices in County Meath. The devices were allegedly in his possession on 16 December 2014 at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan. The judge remanded him on continuing bail to return on 29 October for sentencing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, David Gallagher, aged 38, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of explosives, including PETN, RDX, a 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, an improvised detonation cord, steel booster tube, and a time‑and‑power unit found at Kilcurry Church on 25 May 2014. The court remanded him in custody to return on 13 October for sentencing. His co‑accused, Gareth Mulley, 45, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the same offence.
Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possession of a large car bomb. The device, seized near the border last year, was intended for Northern Ireland and comprised a 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, a steel booster tube, and a time‑and‑power unit with a 30‑minute delay. Gardaí arrested Mulley during a raid on Kilcurry Church grounds, where he transferred the bomb components from a van to a Volkswagen Passat. The prosecution argued the bomb was a vehicle‑borne improvised explosive device capable of 280 metre detonation range. Mulley pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of explosives. The judge noted his lack of prior convictions and family commitments but deemed the offence too serious for any sentence suspension, imposing a 10‑year term back‑dated to 1 June 2014.
Ryan Glennon, aged 24, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in a late‑night sitting on 29 July 2015. He was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 13 May 2015. Glennon was arrested at 5:16 pm on Londonbridge Road, Dublin 4, by the Special Detective Unit during an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He was present in court wearing a pink t‑shirt and jeans, made no reply to his arrest or caution, and did not stand when requested. The court remanded him in custody to appear via video link on Friday, 31 July.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 July 2015, an Army bomb disposal expert testified that the components for a large car bomb were discovered in the boot of a northern‑registered car parked in a church car park near the border. The court heard that Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was arrested on 25 May 2014 after a Garda operation targeting dissident republicans. He was charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance, including PETN and RDX, an adapted 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate explosives, an improvised steel booster tube and an improvised time‑and‑power unit. Evidence from a garda ballistics expert indicated the time‑and‑power unit had a thirty‑minute delay. An Army explosives officer confirmed the items constituted a vehicle‑borne improvised explosive device, commonly known as a car bomb. The trial is ongoing. Gareth Mulley pleaded not guilty.
In a non‑jury hearing before the Special Criminal Court, Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of explosives. The prosecution alleged that Mulley had assembled a large homemade bomb intended for Northern Ireland. The device comprised a 50‑litre Guinness beer keg that had been modified, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, PETN and RDX, an improvised steel booster tube, and a time‑and‑power unit with a thirty‑minute delay. The Special Criminal Court was informed that the Special Detective Unit had observed Mulley on 20 May and 25 May 2014, around his home and at Kilcurry Church, and that he was arrested by the Emergency Response Unit after a transfer of material from a van to a northern‑registered Volkswagen Passat. Forensic evidence was to be presented showing the components of the keg bomb, a device that had been used previously. The trial is ongoing.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle, Glock pistol components, and a flexible PETN‑filled tubing explosive at his home on 15 November 2014. He also admitted possession of 59 rounds of ammunition at Furry Park, Cloghran, on 3 July 2013. The judge granted an adjournment of the sentencing hearing to 8 December 2015 at the request of counsel.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, was arrested on 11 July 2015 by the Special Detective Unit and charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, and a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun with three cartridges. The Special Criminal Court granted him bail on a €100 personal bond and a €10,000 independent surety. He must sign daily at Dundalk Garda Station, observe a 11 pm‑6 am curfew, surrender his passport, avoid contact with convicted or charged persons, and remain within the jurisdiction until 23 October 2015.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, appeared before an out‑of‑hours Special Criminal Court on 13 July 2015. He was charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 combat pistol, seven rounds of 8mm ammunition, a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun and three shotgun cartridges, all seized at his home in Cuillenstown, Readypenny, Dundalk. Finnegan made no reply to his arrest or caution. His counsel requested the matter be listed for 16 July, when a bail and legal aid application is expected. The judge remanded him in custody for that hearing.
Brian Meehan, 47, from Crumlin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. He was convicted in a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court in July 1999 and also jailed on drugs and firearms charges. Meehan has applied to have his 1999 murder conviction quashed on the basis of new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Court of Appeal scheduled his application for hearing on 19 and 20 November. The DPP's counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, said the State needed two more weeks to prepare submissions, citing the volume of material since the murder. The DPP's motion to dismiss Meehan's application was refused last year, and the Court of Appeal will now consider whether the case should proceed. The hearing will focus on whether the new evidence constitutes a miscarriage of justice.
A 22-year-old man from Clonmel, County Tipperary, has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court ahead of trial scheduled for October. Dylan Cahill faces charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, alleged to have occurred on 13 May 2015. He is also charged with possession of a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of matching ammunition at Sradrine, Glefame, County Leitrim on the same date, in circumstances giving rise to reasonable inference the items were not lawfully held. Additionally, Mr Cahill is charged with possession of two improvised explosive devices at the same location. Detective Garda Mark Benson told the court that Mr Cahill was arrested at Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, on 15 May and made no reply to the charges. An independent surety of €20,000 was frozen in a bank account. Trial is set for 16 October 2015.
Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged with IRA membership and possession of explosives. The charges include unlawful possession of PETN and RDX, a 50‑litre adapted beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate explosive, an improvised detonation cord, a steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit found at Kilcurry Church on 25 May 2014. He and two co‑accused are alleged to have had the items in circumstances that raised reasonable suspicion of unlawful intent. Mulley was arrested in May 2014 by the Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republicans. The three‑judge court set bail from 9 July until 15 July, with conditions including a €13 000 surety, a €1 000 personal bond, curfew, no contact with witnesses or co‑accused, and mandatory daily reporting to a Garda station. He must appear again on 22 July for trial.
In the lead‑up to Prince Charles' State visit, Donal O Coisdealbha, aged 23, was arrested on May 13, 2015 on charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army and possession of a component of an improvised explosive device – a time and power unit – allegedly stored in a locker at Protector Life Sciences, National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Counsel Dean Kelly BL informed the non‑jury Special Criminal Court that his client intends to file a renewed bail application on July 21. Bail had previously been refused in May, a decision upheld on appeal to the High Court. Mr Kelly argued that the material used to deny bail – a transcription of a telephone call – may have been mis‑transcribed and that circumstances had changed significantly. Vincent Heneghan BL, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the transcription issue was not the central reason for the refusal. The court will consider the new application on the scheduled date.
The Court of Appeal ruled that the Special Criminal Court had misinterpreted the statute on rearresting IRA suspects. Mr Kevin Braney, 40, had been charged with membership of the IRA in 2013 after a prior 1989 arrest on the same suspicion that never led to charges. The Special Criminal Court held that the two arrests were unlawful because they were for the same offence without a warrant. The Court of Appeal found this interpretation incorrect, noting that a 24‑year gap between arrests differs from the three‑month gap in the Vincent Banks case. It held that membership implies continuity, not permanence, and that the earlier and later arrests may not be the same offence. The decision clarified that the Special Criminal Court's view was not correct under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Seven men from Dublin were acquitted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court on 30 June 2015. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found that the Department of Public Prosecutions would not present further evidence after a ruling last week that the arrests of six of the men were unlawful. The men—Brian Nick Mc Bennett (54), Peter Burns (39), Kevin Braney (39), Michael Barr (33), John Brock (41), Declan Phelan (31) and Desmond Christie (49)—had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court had earlier ruled that the arrests at a house in Tallaght lacked the necessary objective justification under the Section 30 Offences Against the State Act. The acquittal followed the prosecution's decision not to pursue the case further. The case had involved a search of a house in Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, where police found packages allegedly containing communications from prisoners in Portlaoise Prison.
Two men appeared before an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 26 June 2015, charged with membership of an unlawful organisation and explosives offences. Paul Dodd, aged 29, of St Matthews Park, Ballymahon, Co Longford, faced charges of IRA membership and possession of component parts of an improvised explosive device, including shotgun cartridges and related materials, discovered at his home on 24 June. He was also charged with possession of approximately 30 assorted shotgun cartridges at the same address. Brendan Hope, aged 49, of Springfield Cottages, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was charged with IRA membership and possession of an improvised explosive device containing shotgun propellant powder, a 12-gauge cartridge, and other materials, found in Ballymahon on 24 June. Both men were arrested by members of the Special Detective Unit as part of investigations into dissident republican activity. Neither made any reply upon arrest. Both defence representatives indicated they would seek bail applications at a subsequent hearing. The court remanded both men in custody to appear on 1 July.
Lawyers for the State have requested an additional two weeks to file a response to Brian Meehan's appeal, which seeks to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice. Meehan, aged 47 and serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison, is arguing that new evidence from the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan undermines his conviction. The evidence relates to material that emerged during Gilligan's trial, in which Gilligan was acquitted of Guerin's murder but convicted of cannabis importation. During case‑management proceedings in the Court of Appeal, the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, explained that the State needed time to prepare a full set of submissions, citing the volume of material and the need to clarify the meaning of new evidence.
In a 2015 appeal, the Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the Special Criminal Court had wrongly ruled the second arrest of Kevin Braney, aged 40, unlawful. Braney had been arrested in 1989 on suspicion of IRA membership but was never charged. He was rearrested in March 2013 for the same alleged offence. The court had held the second arrest unlawful because it considered membership offences to be continuing, but the DPP contended that each arrest arises from a distinct offence tied to time, place and circumstance. Braney's counsel, Bernard Condon, countered that a membership offence is not a single event and that the statute does not prohibit repeated arrests. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Seán Ryan, would reserve judgment until 26 June 2015.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 10 June 2015, seven men were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) after a 2013 raid on a Tallaght house. The raid, conducted by Special Branch detectives, uncovered two packages on a coffee table in the front room. The packages contained thin paper, tightly folded and wrapped in clingfilm, which were communications from prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. The prosecution, led by Ms Tara Burns SC, argued that the men—Brian Nick Mc Bennett (54), Peter Burns (39), Kevin Braney (39), Michael Barr (33), John Brock (41), Declan Phelan (31) and Desmond Christie (49)—were holding a dissident IRA meeting to discuss these prison messages. All seven pleaded not guilty. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Alison Lindsay and Cormac Dunne, is conducting a six‑week voir dire to determine the admissibility of evidence from the search warrant and arrests.
Seven men from Dublin – Brian Nick Mc Bennett (54), Peter Burns (39), Kevin Braney (39), Michael Barr (33), John Brock (41), Declan Phelan (31) and Desmond Christie (49) – pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges that they were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 3 July 2013. The prosecution, represented by Tara Burns SC, announced that the case would be opened the following day, and the court adjourned the trial until then.
At a Special Criminal Court sitting on 20 May 2015, Donal O Coisdealbha, aged 23, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and possession of a time‑and‑power unit (TPU) for an improvised explosive device. He was arrested by the Special Detective Unit on 13 May 2015. The court, after hearing objections to bail from the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Special Detective Unit, and considering the strength of the evidence and the potential for non‑appearance, refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act. Judge Paul Butler noted the lengthy delay to trial and the possibility of a future bail application, but ultimately remanded O Coisdealbha in custody until 7 July. On the same day, Séamus McGrane, aged 60, was also charged with directing and membership of the IRA, but no bail application was made; he too was remanded until 7 July, when his case will be heard by video link.
Kevin Braney, 40, of Tallaght, Dublin, was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court in a trial concerning alleged membership of an unlawful organisation. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler alongside Judges Cormac Dunne and Flann Brennan, allowed Braney bail on consent from May 26 until June 3. He was required to enter a €100 bond, surrender his passport, reside at specified addresses, sign on twice daily at a garda station, observe a curfew between 7am and 7pm, and provide a mobile number. Additionally, he must not contact prosecution witnesses or associate with co-accused or persons charged with scheduled offences, except in the presence of his legal team. His independent surety of €3,250 was present in court. Braney's trial is currently listed for June 9. He is one of seven men charged with membership of the IRA on July 3, 2013. His co-accused are Peter Burns, Brian Nick McBennet, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan, and Desmond Christie. All six co-accused face the same alleged charge. The matter remains at the trial stage, with Braney's temporary bail period set to expire before his scheduled trial date.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at trial, facing alleged IRA-related charges arising from an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activities. Séamus McGrane, 60, of Co Louth, was charged with directing the activities of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA and membership of that organisation between December 2009 and May 2015. He made no reply to the charges and was remanded in custody until May 20. Donal O Coisdealbha, 23, of Dublin 15, was charged with IRA membership and possession of a time and power unit, a component of an improvised explosive device, found in a storage locker at NUI Maynooth. He also made no reply and was remanded in custody until May 20, with his solicitor indicating a bail application would be made. Dylan Cahill, 22, of Co Tipperary, was charged with IRA membership, possession of a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and two pipe bombs in Co Leitrim. He made no reply to the charges. A proposed bail application for the following Tuesday was opposed by the DPP due to Garda operational constraints. The court remanded Mr Cahill in custody until June 9, granting him liberty to apply for bail before that date. All three accused were identified in the dock by detective sergeants, and no pleas or findings were recorded at this procedural stage.
A Northern Ireland man, Samuel Devlin, aged 55, was arrested in Dublin after a massive car bomb was discovered at a hotel in County Dublin. Detectives found detonating cord in his rented apartment at Finnstown House, Lucan, where he had been staying under a false name. Devlin was caught "red‑handed" in possession of explosives, refusing to give his name, address or date of birth to the Gardaí. He had moved to the State in 2002 and had no family ties in the jurisdiction. The Special Criminal Court heard that the Special Detective Unit would allege that Devlin had rented the apartment to carry out an IRA operation at the hotel. He is charged with unlawful possession of PETN and membership of an unlawful organisation, Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA). The judge described him as a definite flight risk and remanded him in custody until his trial in February.
The Special Criminal Court granted temporary bail to Brian Nick McBennet, one of seven men charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, specifically the IRA. McBennet, aged 56, and his co-accused—Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan, and Desmond Christie—were charged on July 3, 2013. The three-judge panel, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, allowed McBennet bail from May 22 to May 24 on consent. Conditions included a €100 personal bond, surrendering travel documents, residing at a specified address, daily garda station sign-ins, a curfew, and providing a dedicated mobile phone number. He was also prohibited from contacting prosecution witnesses or associating with persons charged with scheduled offences outside the presence of his legal team. An independent surety of €10,000 was provided, with the surety agreeing to freeze their bank account to maintain that balance. The court noted that an application to adjourn McBennet's trial, currently listed for June 9, will be made on Tuesday. This adjournment is pending an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions on a point of law in a connected case, which is scheduled for the following week in the Court of Appeal. The matter remains subject to this procedural delay.
Sean Connolly, aged 35, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly, 65, on 4 December 2012. Connolly shot Kelly four times in the back outside his home on Furry Park Road, Killester, after Kelly had returned from a Ladbrokes betting shop. Gardaí arrested Connolly minutes after the shooting, and forensic evidence linked him to the crime: 9mm cartridge residue, an accelerant matching that used to burn a black Lexus involved in the killing, and admissions made to detectives. Connolly had prior convictions in the Special Criminal Court, including a six‑year sentence in 2004 for IRA membership and a four‑year sentence in 2000 for firearms possession. The court described the murder as a "most heinous crime" and imposed a mandatory life sentence. Sean Connolly pleaded guilty.
Sean Connolly, aged 35, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to the murder of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly, who was killed on 4 December 2012 at Furry Park Road, Killester, Dublin. Connolly had originally faced three charges – murder, IRA membership and possession of a firearm – but the court was informed that the latter two would not proceed after his guilty plea. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel noted that a nolle prosequi would be entered for the remaining counts. A Victim Impact Report was being prepared, and the court was scheduled to reconvene on 1 May. The case was to be heard by Judges Paul Butler, Alison Lindsay and Flann Brennan, with a significant Garda presence in attendance. The trial, expected to last three weeks, was halted following Connolly's admission of guilt.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle and its components, as well as parts for Glock pistols, at his home on 15 November 2014. He also admitted unlawful possession of a flexible PETN explosive tube at the same address. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to holding 59 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and brands at Furry Park, Turnapin Great, Old Airport Road, Cloghran on 3 July 2013. The court remanded him in custody for sentencing on 15 May of the following year.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possession of 59 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances. He was arrested in July 2013 at a yard in Cloghran by the Special Detective Unit and the Crime and Security Section during investigations into dissident republican activity. Hendrick was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (Oglaigh na hEireann). The court scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, 22 April, and the State anticipated a nolle prosequi on the membership charge.
On 31 March 2015, the Special Criminal Court granted bail to David Murray, a 54‑year‑old Dublin resident of Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, who was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court set a €100 personal bond and required an independent surety of €20,000. Conditions of bail included residence in Finglas, signing in twice daily at Finglas Garda Station, observing a curfew from midnight to 8 a.m., surrendering his passport and travel documents, providing a mobile phone number to the Gardaí and keeping the phone on at all times, and refraining from associating with anyone charged with a scheduled offence or contacting any prosecution witnesses. Murray was remanded in custody with consent to bail until 19 May, when a book of evidence is expected to be served. The bail decision was made by Judges Paul Butler, Martin Nolan and Anthony Hamill, with legal aid granted.
On 25 March 2015, a Dublin man, David Murray, aged 54, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at a late‑night sitting of the Special Criminal Court. Detective Garda Colin Finnerty, acting under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, arrested Murray around 7 pm on Liam Mellows Road, Finglas, and transported him to Finglas Garda Station before transferring him to the court. In the courtroom, Finnerty presented the original charge sheet to Murray, who made no reply. Murray produced his official ID and was informed of the arrest. Barrister Lorcan Staines BL, representing Murray, noted that the defendant was preserving his position regarding jurisdiction and intended to apply for bail on the following Tuesday. Judge Paul Butler, together with Judges Martin Nolan and Anthony Hamill, remanded Murray in custody until that Tuesday, allowing him to apply for bail.
Declan Phelan, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court on charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The court imposed strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, signing daily at Naas Garda Station between 2 pm and 11 pm, observing a curfew from midnight to 6:30 am, and refraining from leaving the jurisdiction or associating with persons charged or convicted of scheduled offences. He must also maintain a single mobile phone with the Gardaí. Bail was set on an independent surety of €10,000 and his own bond of €100. Phelan is scheduled to appear again on June 9, 2015. This case stems from a special sitting in July 2013, where Phelan and six other men were charged with the same offence on July 3, 2013. The co-accused are Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, Brian Nick McBennett, John Brock, and Desmond Christie. All seven men face allegations of IRA membership, but no pleas, findings, or sentences have been recorded for the group at this procedural stage. The report confirms only Phelan's bail grant and upcoming court date, while the status of the other accused remains pending further proceedings.
Seven men from Dublin were acquitted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court after the prosecution's case collapsed. The court ruled that belief evidence from Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed confidential information that the men were IRA members, was inadmissible because it had not been disclosed to the defence and was based on human sources and telephone intercepts. The men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy—had pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation. The prosecution had alleged they were part of an IRA operation to extort money from a used‑car dealer in Clondalkin and that they had travelled to the dealership for that purpose. The court found no evidence to support the claim and directed the men to be acquitted.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2015, Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan of Garda Security and Intelligence presented confidential information, claiming privilege, to support his belief that seven men arrested in a 2013 Garda swoop on a used‑car lot in west Dublin were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Kirwan said the evidence came from human sources and telephone intercepts. The seven men—Kevin Braney (40), Des Christie (50), Hubert Duffy (47), William Jackson (55), Declan Phelan (33), John Brock (42) and Darren Murphy (44)—had been arrested on 29 March 2013 and had pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. Garda searches of the car lot and subsequent vehicle, office and kitchen searches yielded cable ties, balaclavas, a Glock pistol, a baseball bat, a lump hammer, pepper spray and gloves. The prosecution's case relies on surveillance sightings, seized items, the accused's responses to Garda questioning and Kirwan's opinion evidence. The trial remains ongoing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 February 2015, Eamon McNamee, one of eight Dublin men accused of IRA membership, was released after the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi. Prosecutor Tara Burns explained that the DPP would not pursue the charge. The court had earlier ruled that McNamee and three others—Kevin Braney, William Jackson, and Darren Murphy—had not been lawfully arrested during a Garda operation at a car lot in west Dublin. Judge Paul Butler noted that these men had previously been arrested for IRA membership and should not have been rearrested for the same offence without a warrant. The remaining seven accused continue to face trial. The case involved surveillance evidence, seized weapons and equipment, and testimony from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The eight men, all pleading not guilty, were charged on 29 March 2013 with membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army.
In February 2015, lawyers for the State were instructed to prepare a substantive response to Brian Meehan's appeal, which seeks to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice. Meehan, 47, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise Prison after a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court. He also faces convictions for drugs and firearms. Meehan's appeal is based on new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tom O'Connell, noted that the evidence was already known before the original appeal and that the DPP had previously moved to dismiss the application, a motion that was refused by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The Court of Appeal has ordered the State to submit a comprehensive response, with case management to be considered on 19 June.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled against surveillance gardaí who claimed privilege over revealing the number of officers observing suspects. This occurred during the trial of eight men—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—all of whom pleaded not guilty to alleged membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army on March 29, 2013. The prosecution alleges the men were observed by the National Surveillance Unit in Finglas and Clondalkin before being arrested at a used car lot in Clondalkin, where items including a Glock pistol, balaclavas, and cable ties were allegedly found. During cross-examination, a garda claimed privilege regarding the number of officers in his vehicle, arguing disclosure would compromise state security. The court partially upheld this claim but allowed questioning on whether others were present to take notes. The public was excluded during testimony to protect trade craft. The trial continues before Mr Justice Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay, and Judge William Hamill, with the prosecution relying on surveillance sightings, seized items, and interview responses.
The Special Criminal Court has excluded the public during evidence from the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the ongoing trial of eight Dublin men. Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy all pleaded not guilty to the alleged charge of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29th, 2013. The prosecution alleges that surveillance officers observed the accused at locations in Finglas and Clondalkin on that morning. Following their arrest by the Emergency Response Unit at a used car sales lot, the state claims gardai recovered items including a Glock pistol, balaclavas, and cable ties. During cross-examination, a detective invoked privilege regarding his location, citing operational security. The prosecution intends to rely on surveillance sightings, recovered items, and the defendants' responses to garda questioning, where some denied membership while others provided untrue answers. The court will hear opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage, and the trial is continuing.
Eight men were arrested after a Garda operation on a used‑car lot in west Dublin. The Special Criminal Court heard that the Garda National Surveillance Unit had observed the men at various locations in Finglas and Clondalkin on 29 March 2013. At midday, the Emergency Response Unit entered the yard of the used‑car sales lot and arrested the eight. Subsequent searches of two vans, an office and a kitchen uncovered cable ties, gloves, balaclavas, a baseball bat, a lump hammer, pepper spray and a Glock pistol. The men – Kevin Braney (40), Des Christie (50), Eamon McNamee (34), Hubert Duffy (47), William Jackson (55), Declan Phelan (33), John Brock (42) and Darren Murphy (44) – all pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution case will rely on the surveillance sightings, the items found, the men's responses to Garda questioning and opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan.
The 55‑day Special Criminal Court trial of Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44) for the murder of 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly collapsed after a failure in evidence disclosure. Judge Deirdre Murphy ruled the court must discharge itself as a jury and order a retrial. The collapse followed the revelation that privileged material from witness David Cullen's 2013 statement had been inadequately disclosed. Cullen, who had testified that he was part of the murder plan and had turned State's witness, had been given a partially redacted statement to the defence, breaching cross‑examination rights. The judge cited the unexplained failure of disclosure as undermining the integrity of the process, leading to the decision to remand Evans and McGrath in custody and Kelly on bail pending a new trial. The original case involved the shooting of Butterly in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty. Dean Evans pleaded not guilty. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty.
A 24‑year‑old Louth man, Adrian Crevan Mackin of Mullach Alainn, Omeath, was brought before the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The charge was brought on Friday, 16 January, after Mackin was arrested and cautioned at The Crescent, Dundalk. Detective Garda Ciaran Hobbs gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution. The three‑judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, agreed to hear the case. Mackin was remanded in custody and will appear again on Thursday, with his barrister planning to apply for bail and legal aid.