The Special Criminal Court has denied Frederick "Freddie" Thompson's request to dismiss the murder charge against him. Thompson, 36, is charged with the July 1st, 2016 killing of David Douglas, 55, who was shot dead in a shop on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin. Thompson's barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued for dismissal under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, while Seán Gillane SC represented the prosecution. Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, stated that the three‑judge panel had reviewed all evidence and submissions and found sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial.
The Special Criminal Court heard belief evidence from Garda Chief Superintendent Gerard Russell that Vincent Banks, a 47‑year‑old Dublin man, was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Russell told counsel Paul Greene SC that he believed Banks was an IRA member on the date in question, citing material he had viewed and his experience with the Special Detective Unit. Banks, who lives in Smithfield Gate Apartments, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 18 December 2012. Padraig Dwyer SC for Banks suggested the belief was false. The court had earlier ruled that interviews conducted with Banks under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act were admissible, despite Banks' denial of IRA membership and his claim never to have seen the registration certificate for the car alleged to have been used in the fatal shooting of prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Vincent Banks, a 47‑year‑old Dublin resident, to the following morning. Banks is accused of IRA membership and of buying the car later used in the fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black, a 52‑year‑old father of two, who was killed on 1 November 2012 while driving to work at Maghaberry prison. Banks pleaded not guilty to the membership charge on 18 December 2012. The case will resume before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Vincent Banks, 47, of Dublin, pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. The prosecution alleges he bought the car used in the 2012 murder of Northern Irish prison officer David Black, 52, who was shot while driving to work at Maghaberry prison. Banks' defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, challenged the legality of his arrest. Evidence was presented in a voir dire to aid the three‑judge panel in deciding the matter. The legal argument will continue on Monday before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
A man accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from investigations into the November 2012 killing of a Northern Irish prison officer. Vincent Banks, aged 47, from Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court. The prosecution opened its case by outlining that David Black, a 52-year-old prison officer, was shot dead on the M1 near Lurgan on November 1st, 2012, whilst driving to Maghaberry prison. The court heard that a Toyota Camry used in the incident was later recovered burnt out in a ditch, with forensic evidence linking it to the killing. Prosecution counsel indicated that evidence will show the vehicle was registered to an address in Dublin and was transported to Carrigallen, County Leitrim, before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy alongside Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Larry McCarthy, 37, of Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, County Limerick, pleaded not guilty to assaulting David Foran, 33, at Cornmarket Villas on 25 November 2014. McCarthy also denied that he and two others threatened to use "unlawful violence" at the same location and date. The prosecution maintains that McCarthy was among those who threatened unlawful violence and assaulted Foran, who had earlier that month been knocked down and offered compensation by a motorcyclist. The defence is scheduled to submit arguments tomorrow before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton presiding.
The Special Criminal Court held a Newton hearing to resolve factual disputes in the case of Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59) over the alleged false imprisonment and waterboarding of Alexander Hurley. The court considered evidence that Jonathan Dowdall claimed to be a member of the IRA and threatened Hurley's family, while Patrick Dowdall denied making such claims. Hurley testified that he was detained at the Dowdalls' Navan Road home on 15 January 2015, that he was held in a garage for about two hours, and that he was threatened with harm to his family if he reported the incident. The judge found the Dowdalls' evidence that the ordeal lasted only 30–40 minutes unconvincing, accepted that IRA claims were made by Jonathan Dowdall, and confirmed that threats were made to Hurley's family. The hearing concluded with the court directing that sentencing would take place the following day. Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty. Patrick Dowdall pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has directed a Newton hearing to resolve disputed facts in the sentencing phase of a case involving Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall. Both defendants admitted to falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley and threatening to kill him at Navan Road, Dublin 7, on January 15, 2015. Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty to these charges, while Patrick Dowdall also admitted to the threat. Although the matter was previously adjourned after submissions from Jonathan Dowdall's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, the court has now scheduled a hearing for tomorrow morning to address conflicts in evidence. Presiding Judge Isobel Kennedy described Newton hearings as "extraordinarily rare" but permitted one in the interests of justice. The hearing will focus on five specific issues, including whether Jonathan Dowdall invited the victim to dinner, the duration of the ordeal, and allegations regarding threats to the victim's family. The judge noted that the sentence hearing is not at an end and that these issues constitute aggravating factors. The court will determine the facts before passing sentence, with the matter currently at the procedural stage of sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Jim Smyth, 44, of County Monaghan, has heard evidence regarding his alleged membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on November 25, 2015. Mr Smyth, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of membership of an unlawful organization, is accused of being part of the IRA, also known as Oglaigh na hEireann. Prosecution counsel Shane Costello SC outlined that senior gardai convened a meeting at Monaghan garda station shortly before the arrest, briefing officers on confidential information regarding Mr Smyth's activities. The court heard that Detective Garda Alan O'Connor observed the accused exiting a vehicle near derelict houses at Knockatallon, where he was subsequently arrested by Detective Sergeant Gerry Doherty. Portions of Mr Smyth's Section 2 interviews were read into evidence, revealing that while he denied being an IRA quartermaster, he made no response to questions concerning specific items found after his arrest. He also declined to answer inquiries about whether a laneway accessed an IRA storage dump, if he used a shed in his capacity as a member, or if certain houses served as a forward operating base or rendezvous point for attacks in Northern Ireland. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and James Faughnan, and resumes tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that the arrest of a Monaghan man charged with IRA membership was lawful. Jim Smyth, aged 44, of Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that Mr Smyth used his own land and land belonging to his mother-in-law for IRA activities on 25 November 2015. His legal representatives had challenged the lawfulness of his arrest, arguing he had been arrested for the same offence on 29 January that year. Presiding Justice Isobel Kennedy found no connection between the investigation into the alleged activities on the date in question and the earlier arrest on suspicion of IRA membership. The trial continues before Ms Justice Kennedy, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence that two "very well-made" and "viable" improvised explosive devices were discovered in a vehicle stopped by gardai on the N52 in County Meath. Michael Connolly, aged 44 and from Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on 16 December 2014. The prosecution alleges Mr Connolly was observed driving in convoy with a man who was later found with the two devices. A retired army captain and a detective garda gave expert testimony describing the IEDs as cylindrical plastic containers powered by nine-volt batteries, each containing a timing unit programmed for approximately eight hours and pyrotechnic material. Both devices were confirmed as completed and viable. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Flann Brennan.
In the Special Criminal Court, Brian Kenna, 54, of Crumlin, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 21 November 2015. The court heard that a detective searched Kenna outside Portlaoise prison after an alleged IRA communiqué fell from his pocket. On 26 April 2017, Kenna's solicitor, Siobhan Stack SC, argued that the search and arrest were unlawful, claiming the detective had only very general information and lacked sufficient suspicion to justify stopping and searching Kenna. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Flann Brennan, will decide the matter tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court is scheduled to deliver a verdict this Friday in the trial of Mark Heffernan, a Limerick man accused of involvement in a serious assault. Heffernan (32), of Swallow Drive, John Carey Park, Limerick, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting Dan Quilligan, causing him harm at Larch Court on September 14, 2015. During the trial, the court heard evidence that Quilligan was beaten and his left foot was nailed to the kitchen floor with a nail gun. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC argued that the evidence, including a tracking device on a hired white Audi and CCTV footage, established that Heffernan was the driver of the vehicle and part of a planned assault. She noted that the Audi was parked outside the house at the time of the alleged incident and later visited the home of co-accused Gerard Mackin. Mackin (33) and Patrick Hayes (52), both of Limerick, previously admitted to the assault and were each jailed for three years. Defence counsel Ronan Munro SC contended there were significant inconsistencies in the prosecution timeline, specifically regarding the arrival of the Audi relative to eyewitness accounts of men in white suits. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan, who will deliver the verdict on Friday.
In the Special Criminal Court, Mark Heffernan (32) faced charges of assault and false imprisonment of Dan Quilligan on 14 September 2015. Heffernan pleaded not guilty. His counsel, Ronan Prendergast BL, argued that the prosecution's case was weakened by a lack of evidence linking Heffernan to the assault. He cited Quilligan's testimony that a man in the house warned "Leave the man alone, you're going to kill him," and claimed no evidence proved Heffernan was that man. Prendergast also urged the court to consider Tom Lillis's testimony that he saw Heffernan in the house that day, questioning its admissibility. The court adjourned the hearing to Friday for a decision on these legal submissions. The trial remains at the joint enterprise stage, with no verdict yet reached.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence from Garda interviews with Mark Heffernan, accused of assaulting and falsely imprisoning Dan Quilligan. Heffernan, 32, denies any involvement, stating he was not part of the alleged assault or false imprisonment. Garda Patrick Whelan interviewed him on 24 May, noting a tracking device on a white Audi that allegedly moved between Kennedy Park and Larch Court, where the incident occurred. Heffernan refuted this, claiming no connection to the car or the assault. The prosecution also read a statement from Richard McInerney, who was present in the house on the day of the alleged assault. McInerney described a confrontation over owed money, a bag thrown into the sitting‑room containing two white painter's suits, and his decision to leave. The prosecution closed its case, and the trial was adjourned to Wednesday for the defence to submit before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan, and Judge Ann Ryan. Mark Heffernan pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard a protected witness who said a Limerick man accused of assaulting and falsely imprisoning a 53‑year‑old was present at the house where the alleged attack took place. The prosecution claims that three men were involved in a joint enterprise during which Dan Quilligan, a resident of Rathkeale, was beaten and his left foot was nailed to the kitchen floor of a house in Limerick. Mark Heffernan (32) pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Quilligan and to falsely imprisoning him at the same address on 14 September 2015. Two other men, Gerard Mackin (33) and Patrick Hayes (52), pleaded guilty and were sentenced to three years in prison by the non‑jury court. Tom Lillis, a witness, testified that he was living at the house in Larch Court with two other men, including Patrick Hayes, on the morning of the assault.
The Special Criminal Court ordered that the public be excluded from the hearing of evidence given by members of the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the trial of Lithuanian man Eimantas Valteris, aged 33, who was arrested in 2013 as part of an operation to counter dissident republican activity in the border area. Valteris, the first Lithuanian charged before the Special Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a .32‑inch semi‑automatic pistol (IZH 79‑8 model Baikal, serial TPB358706) found at his car sales depot in Balmoral Industrial Estate, Navan, Co. Meath. The court heard that Valteris operated the depot and that on 10 June 2013 he was observed moving a red Fiat Ducato van and a black VW Passat, the latter of which was stopped by Gardaí in Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, where the pistol was recovered in the boot. A later search of Valteris's yard yielded €2,000 in another car.
The Special Criminal Court heard a second day of arguments about whether the evidence of a protected witness, David Cullen, could be admitted in the murder trial of Peter Butterly. Butterly, 35, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Cullen, who had been accused of the murder, turned State's witness after more than a year and has implicated his former co‑accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47). Both men pleaded not guilty to the murder, and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court is considering Cullen's testimony as part of a voir‑dire, and the counsel for Kelly argued that admitting it would amount to the court turning a blind eye to numerous failures to convey the truth. The prosecution countered that Cullen's statements were well‑documented and uncontroversial.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that Peter Butterly, 35, died of multiple gunshot wounds in a Meath car park on 6 March 2013. The post‑mortem report, read by Caroline Cummings BL, described entry wounds to his neck and trunk and exit wounds to his neck and head, a sternal fracture, cardiac tamponade and traumatic brain injuries. Two witnesses, Sean Brennan and Francesco Macari, described seeing a silver vehicle, a chase, a gunshot and a bang from the Huntsman Inn area. The trial concerns two Dubliners, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), who pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. The case is the second trial for the pair after the original collapsed in 2015. The hearing is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that evidence from eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members in the retrial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly must be given anonymously with the public excluded. McGrath (35) and Kelly (46) have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly, a 35-year-old father of three, who was shot dead in Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. McGrath also denied unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition. The court is proceeding with the trial in the absence of third accused Dean Evans, who has not been located. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. Prosecuting counsel stated that protected witness David Cullen would testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the deed was done. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court accepted that surveillance of alleged paramilitaries is a dangerous aspect of policing, justifying the exclusion of the public and the use of initials for witness identities. The trial is continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court will decide tomorrow whether eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members can give evidence anonymously and whether the public must be excluded from the re‑trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. The court has been told that the gun used was monitored by the unit and that a protected witness will testify against the two men. McGrath denies unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition and denies intent to endanger life. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent and not located, so the trial will proceed without him. The case is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly after the original collapsed in 2015. Prosecuting counsel said David Cullen, a protected witness, will testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Cullen was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with three and a half years suspended for firearms charges. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Philip McKevitt, 62, of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to possessing explosive substances. The prosecution alleges that after Gardaí entered his shed on 22 May 2010, they found an improvised trailer with two gas cylinders adapted to cause an explosion. The trial will resume tomorrow before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 December 2016, the court rejected a defence application to exclude evidence from the arrest and search of Philip McKevitt, a 62‑year‑old accused of possessing explosives. McKevitt had claimed that during the raid on his shed at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, a Garda struck him on the head with the butt of a gun and later kicked him as he fell. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness argued that such alleged assault violated McKevitt's constitutional rights and should render the evidence inadmissible. The court considered testimony from a Special Detective Unit member who said McKevitt had slipped on plastic sheeting, causing his injury. Justice Isobel Kennedy found the injury was not caused by the alleged assault and therefore allowed the evidence to be admitted. The trial continues. Philip McKevitt pleaded not guilty.
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.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence on 30 November 2016 regarding bomb threats and an incendiary device discovered during a state visit by Queen Elizabeth in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 66, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, County Longford, was convicted last month of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011, and four offences under the Criminal Law Act 1976 of making false reports. He was found guilty of falsely reporting bombs at Busáras and Sinn Féin headquarters in Dublin, at Dublin Castle, and at Cork airport. A suspicious device containing gunpowder and petrol was discovered in a bus luggage compartment. Phone calls made by the accused coincided with Queen Elizabeth's presence in the State. Gardaí traced the calls through mobile phone analysis and CCTV evidence. The court rejected a bail application. Billings was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 15 December 2016.
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.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 November 2016, a Dublin man, Ryan Glennon, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that a large quantity of explosives was discovered at a property in Courttown, County Wexford, and that evidence linked Glennon to that site. Legal arguments were presented by Hugh Hartnett SC on behalf of Glennon and Tara Burns SC for the State, focusing on the legality of Glennon's arrest. The trial is proceeding before Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
A Special Criminal Court trial has heard that gardaí discovered an improvised explosive device on a passenger bus bound for Dublin on the eve of a royal visit in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 65, of Drumlish, County Longford, is charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and with four offences of making false bomb reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976. The charges allege he made false reports claiming bombs were positioned at Busáras Dublin, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport between May 16th and 20th. Mr Billings has pleaded not guilty to all five charges. Garda evidence established that the device, located in a Tesco bag beneath a Corduff Travel bus at Straffan Road rail station in Maynooth, contained a two-litre bottle of flammable liquid, copper piping filled with explosive material, a mechanical timer, battery, and firework components. An Army Bomb Disposal Unit member disabled the device, confirming it possessed capability to cause serious injury. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two Dublin men, Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24), were tried for unlawful possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition. Gardaí observed them in disguises inside a stolen Renault Kangoo van in June 2014. Finlay was seen holding the handgun, which he later dropped when ordered by Detective Sergeant Joseph Finnegan. Both men were questioned under Sections 18, 19 and 19(a) of the Criminal Justice Act and failed to explain the handgun, ammunition, van, fake beards or an An Post jacket. Their defence counsel did not contest the evidence. The court remanded Byrne on continuing bail and held Finlay in custody, with judgment expected on 16 June 2016. Michael Finlay pleaded not guilty. Dean Byrne pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2016, two Dublin men, Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24), were tried for unlawful possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol, a magazine and various rounds of ammunition at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght on 5 June 2014. Both pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that a Kildare man's Renault Kangoo van had been stolen from his home on 30 April 2014, with its keys missing, and that the van was later recovered by the Gardaí. The van's registration number did not match the tax disc at the time of the alleged offences. Garda Graham Dunne interviewed Byrne on 6 June 2014, questioning him about the firearm, ammunition, the stolen van with false plates, and his presence at Glenshane Crescent the previous morning; Byrne gave no reply. The trial continues.
During the Special Criminal Court trial, evidence was presented that Michael Finlay (36) and Dean Byrne (24) were accused of unlawfully possessing a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition at Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, on 5 June 2014. The prosecution alleged that in June 2014 Gardaí investigating suspected IRA activity observed the pair in a stolen Renault Kangoo van, both wearing disguises, and that Finlay was seen dropping a handgun. Both men pleaded not guilty to the possession charges. In a Garda interview on 6 June 2014, Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce questioned Finlay about the firearm, ammunition, the van, false number plates, an An Post jacket, a false beard, gloves and a black bag containing two rounds of 9mm ammunition. Finlay made no comment. Forensic evidence included diesel oil found in a bottle seized from the van, a Russian‑made pistol with its serial number obliterated, and no fingerprints on the firearm or magazine. The trial continues.
A Westmeath man has received a three-year prison sentence at the Special Criminal Court for possession of an improvised explosive device. Brendan Hope, aged 49, of Springfield Cottages, Mullingar, pleaded guilty to the charge relating to an IED discovered at St Matthews Park, Ballymahon, County Longford on 24 June 2015. Detective Sergeant William Hanrahan told the court that Hope was observed leaving a house under surveillance as part of an investigation into IRA activity in the Longford area. The device, containing shotgun propellant powder, a cartridge, cardboard tubing, and other components, was found in a van in which Hope was travelling. During interview, Hope initially claimed he had constructed the device out of curiosity before later stating he had found it. The court noted the crude nature of the device and accepted mitigating factors including Hope's guilty plea and time spent in custody. The sentence was backdated to 31 July 2015.
The Special Criminal Court will deliver judgement tomorrow morning at the trial of Pierce Moran, 59, of Church Road, East Wall, Dublin 3, accused of unlawful possession of various semi‑automatic pistols, a silencer, a sawn‑off shotgun and associated magazines and ammunition. The indictment lists an 8mm Knall Valtro AP29, a 9mm CZ 83, a 9mm Makarov PM, a 9mm Baikal IZH79‑8, a 12‑gauge Beretta A.300 shotgun, a silencer for the Makarov pistol, and magazines for the pistols. The prosecution alleges that Special Detective Unit officers searched Moran's flat on 15 November 2014, while he was present, and found a shopping bag with pistols and ammunition in one bedroom and a sawn‑off shotgun in an adjoining room. The court heard closing speeches from the State and defence. Vincent Heneghan BL noted that Moran admitted the gardai into the flat and that 320 Euro found in the bedroom was returned to him.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dublin resident Pierce Moran, 59, faced charges of unlawful possession of multiple semi‑automatic pistols, a silencer, a sawn‑off shotgun, various magazines and assorted ammunition, all allegedly found during a Special Detective Unit search of his East Wall flat on 15 November 2014. During a garda interview on 17 November 2014, Moran refused to explain the presence of the firearms and ammunition, citing his solicitor's advice. The court ruled the interview evidence admissible. Moran entered not‑guilty pleas for each of the three charges. The prosecution argued that the search proved Moran's knowledge and control of the items, citing lack of evidence of a second bedroom and absence of fingerprints. The defence contended that no evidence linked Moran to the firearms. The trial was set to resume on 27 April 2016.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Pierce Moran, 59, of Church Road, East Wall, Dublin 3, faced charges of unlawful possession of several semi‑automatic pistols, a silencer, a sawn‑off shotgun, firearm magazines and assorted ammunition, all allegedly found during a search of his home on 15 November 2014. Gardaí, acting under a search warrant, conducted the operation as part of an investigation into the importation of firearms and ammunition from the USA. Detective Sergeant John Kearney and Garda Jude Ainsworth reported finding four pistols, a silencer, magazines and ammunition in a Dunnes Stores bag in Moran's bedroom, while Garda Francis Crowley discovered a sawn‑off shotgun in a workshop room. The court accepted the admissibility of the search evidence, rejecting defence counsel's objections, and the trial continues with legal arguments.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Pierce Moran, 59, of Church Road, East Wall, Dublin 3, faces charges of unlawful possession of several semi‑automatic pistols—including an 8mm Knall Valtro AP29, a 9mm CZ 83, a 9mm Makarov PM, and a 9mm Baikal IZH79‑8—along with a silencer for the Makarov pistol and a 12‑gauge Beretta A.300 sawn‑off shotgun. He is also charged with possession of magazines for those pistols and assorted ammunition, all allegedly found at his residence on 15 November 2014. The trial is set to resume tomorrow afternoon.
In 2016 the Special Criminal Court upheld the convictions of Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen for the 2009 murder of Roy Collins. Dundon, aged 37, ordered the killing from prison, while Killeen, aged 26, drove the getaway vehicle. Both pleaded not guilty but were found guilty after a 29‑day trial and sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 July 2014. Their defence sought further disclosure of taped telephone calls made by prosecution witnesses during the three‑and‑a‑half years before the trial. Judge George Birmingham refused the motion, stating that any questions about disclosure would be addressed in the full appeal hearing. The court noted that the Special Criminal Court had already limited disclosure to calls relevant to specific events and that the recordings contained "explosive material". The defence argued the calls undermined witness credibility and could lead to a quashing of the convictions, but the court declined to order additional disclosure at this stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Power, 38, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. The court heard evidence that on 19 May 2011, between 1:55 and 2:05 a.m., a caller with a Northern accent warned of bombs at University College Cork and the Rock of Cashel, noting the Queen's visit the next day. Security officer David Maher testified that he received the call and called the gardai. A Samaritan volunteer also received a call at 1:59 a.m., receiving the codeword "Heather Bay." Detective Sergeant William Blaney confirmed a warning about the Rock of Cashel. The prosecution presented evidence that a grenade, deemed non‑viable and for training, was found in UCC's car‑park, and that a plastic bag containing the device had three fingerprints linked to Power.
At the Special Criminal Court, Robert Day (44), of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the unlawful custody of 400 counterfeit €50 notes at Monck Place, Phibsborough, on February 2, 2014. Day pleaded guilty to the charge. His co-accused, Hubert Duffy (49), of Temple Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen BMW motorcycle at Phoenix Park Racecourse Apartments, Navan Road, between November 11, 2013, and February 2, 2014. Duffy received an 18-month suspended sentence. Detective Superintendent Thomas Maguire of the Special Detective Unit told the court that the counterfeit money was allegedly used to "finance the activities of the IRA." The court heard evidence that Richard Molloy, previously jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for selling €20,000 in counterfeit bills, was involved in the transaction at Clarke's pub. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding over the non-jury court, stated that the sentencing ignored allegations that the money was part of an IRA fund-raising operation. Day's sentence was backdated to August 10, 2014. The court noted Day had one prior conviction for assault causing harm, while Duffy had no prior convictions.
Brian Kenna, 54, of Crumlin Park, Crumlin, was denied a variation in bail that would have allowed him to drive his wife to a wreath‑laying ceremony in Belfast on 30 January for the former INLA chief‑of‑staff, Gino Gallagher, who was murdered in 1996. Kenna had been arrested in Co. Laois in November by the Special Detective Unit as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity and was charged at the Special Criminal Court with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA). At the bail hearing, Detective Inspector William Hanrahan argued that Kenna had been found with documents allegedly intended for senior IRA members and that allowing him to attend the commemoration could expose convicted or charged individuals to the event. Kenna explained that his wife, who walks with crutches, needed a car to travel to Belfast, but he would not attend the ceremony himself.
The Special Criminal Court has heard defence submissions in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth. Mr Murphy, who pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains or the source of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004, is being prosecuted on foot of a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy failed to make returns to Revenue. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL submitted to the three-judge, non-jury court that the charges should be dismissed as an abuse of process. He argued that the State has a duty to explore alternatives before prosecuting an indictable matter where the alleged net income is only €15,000 per year, a figure estimated by a Revenue Inspector. The defence also claimed that Mr Murphy's brother managed his cattle herd and farming activities. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to resume on Tuesday for prosecution submissions.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of explosives, including PETN, RDX, a 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, an improvised steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit. He was arrested on 25 May 2014 after a Garda operation targeting dissident republicans in County Louth. Garda ballistics evidence showed the improvised unit had a thirty‑minute delay. The prosecution alleged the components were for a large beer‑keg bomb intended for Northern Ireland and presented CCTV footage of a "dry run" and a boot closed by Mulley, suggesting concealment. Counsel for the prosecution, Mr Paul Greene SC, argued the evidence proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Judge Paul Butler said a judgment would be delivered next Friday. The case remains at the trial stage.
The Special Criminal Court has set a trial for March 8, 2016, for Kevin Power, 38, of Railway Street, Passage West, who is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Heneghan BL, informed the three‑judge court that 32 witnesses would be called and the trial is expected to last two weeks. The judges—Tony Hunt, Alison Lindsay and Cormac Dunne—issued witness and exhibit orders for the hearing, and Power remains on continuing bail until the trial date.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that the arrests of six Dublin men suspected of IRA membership at a house in Tallaght were unlawful. Judge Tony Hunt said each case lacked the modest level of objective justification required under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, citing the Supreme Court's 2003 Walshe v Fennessy decision. The men—Brian Nick Mc Bennett, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan and Desmond Christie—were found to have been arrested without sufficient justification. Peter Burns, the seventh accused, did not challenge the legality of his arrest. Tara Burns SC, representing the State, requested instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked the court to adjourn until the following Tuesday. The court had previously accepted evidence that a search warrant for the Tallaght house was valid and that two packages allegedly containing communications from prisoners were found in the house. Brian Nick Mc Bennett pleaded not guilty. Kevin Braney pleaded not guilty. Michael Barr pleaded not guilty. John Brock pleaded not guilty. Declan Phelan pleaded not guilty. Desmond Christie pleaded not guilty.
In a 2015 ruling, the Special Criminal Court declared that evidence from a search warrant executed at a Tallaght house could be used in the trial of seven men accused of IRA membership. Judge Tony Hunt confirmed that the warrant was issued and carried out lawfully. Gardaí had found two packages of tightly folded paper wrapped in clingfilm, allegedly communications from prisoners at Portlaoise Prison, on a coffee table in the front room where the accused were gathered. The court held a "voir dire" concerning the warrant and the arrests. Ms Tara Burns SC argued that the prosecution's case was that the men were meeting as IRA members to discuss the communications. Judge Hunt said he would reserve judgment on the arrests' lawfulness until Friday at 11 am. The accused, all pleading not guilty, are Brian Nick Mc Bennett (54), Peter Burns (39), Kevin Braney (39), Michael Barr (33), John Brock (41), Declan Phelan (31) and Desmond Christie (49).
The Special Criminal Court will decide next week whether evidence from a search warrant and the arrest of seven Dublin men can be admitted. The men, accused of IRA membership, were found in a Tallaght house where police discovered two packages of tightly folded paper wrapped in clingfilm, allegedly communications from prisoners at Portlaoise Prison. The prosecution argued that the men were holding an IRA meeting to discuss these communications. The seven accused—Brian Nick Mc Bennett, Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan and Desmond Christie—have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The court is conducting a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the search warrant evidence and the arrests, with a ruling expected next Tuesday at 2 pm before a full six‑week hearing begins.
The Special Criminal Court has fixed a trial date for April 2017, the earliest available slot, amid significant backlog delays. The court currently has 32 people before it and has scheduled 19 trials extending into early 2017. Among these is the trial of Donal Billings, a Co Longford man charged with possession of an improvised explosive device, scheduled for October 2016. Billings has been on bail for several years awaiting this trial, which is set to begin over five and a half years after the alleged offences. The Supreme Court previously criticised delays in the case of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, who faces alleged tax offences dating back to 1996, noting that much of the delay was caused by his repeated challenges. Recent high-profile proceedings have also contributed to the schedule's congestion. In July 2014, Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen were convicted of the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins and jailed for life following a 29-day trial. Additionally, the trial of three men accused of the murder of Peter Butterly collapsed in January after 55 days due to a disclosure issue; their retrial is ordered for January 2017, and they have been released on bail. A separate legal issue regarding IRA membership arrests is pending before the Court of Appeal, with the State set to hear an appeal next June against a ruling that gardai cannot arrest suspects for IRA membership without a warrant if previously arrested for the same offence.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that the opinion evidence of Garda Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed that seven Dublin men were IRA members, was inadmissible because the defence was not informed beforehand that telephone intercepts underpinned his opinion. Kirwan had previously told the court that he believed, based on confidential information, that all seven accused were IRA members, and he claimed privilege over the sources. During cross‑examination he admitted the evidence was based on human sources and telephone intercepts. Justice Paul Butler declared a basic unfairness of procedure and ordered the belief evidence to be excluded. The trial was adjourned to Friday while the prosecution awaited instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The seven 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 IRA, on 29 March 2013.
The Special Criminal Court upheld a privilege claim by Detective Garda Y of the Garda National Surveillance Unit regarding his exact location when he observed eight men at a used car lot in west Dublin. The officer argued that revealing his location would compromise future surveillance operations by exposing the unit's tradecraft and methodology. The court ordered the exclusion of the public from evidence concerning six NSU members and prohibited the disclosure of their identities. It also ruled that the identities of the eight men arrested—Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy—could not be revealed. The men, aged between 33 and 55, pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution case relies on the NSU's observations, items seized, the men's responses to questioning, and opinion evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The trial continues.
In February 2015 the Special Criminal Court announced that a retrial of three Dublin men—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—would take place on 12 January 2017. The men were originally charged with the murder of 35‑year‑old dissident republican Peter Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, County Meath, on 6 March 2013. Evans and McGrath also faced firearm offences. The first trial, which lasted 55 days, collapsed after a failure in evidence disclosure. The retrial was ordered following the disclosure of privileged material from a statement given by chief prosecution witness David Cullen to Gardaí in July 2013. Cullen, who had previously been a co‑accused, had turned State's witness and was already serving a three‑and‑half‑year sentence for lesser offences.