IRA accused read statement threatening Irish in British Army

local summary4 public source leads5 related reports

A 43-year-old man from Limerick has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation at the Special Criminal Court following allegations that he read a statement at a graveside commemoration. The accused is charged with IRA membership after reading a Continuity IRA statement in January 2013 at Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery in Limerick, during a march honouring Sean Sabhat, killed during a 1957 raid on an RUC barracks in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. The statement, recorded by a local radio journalist, contained language identifying Irish enlistees in the British Army as "legitimate targets". Prosecution evidence included a recording of the statement, testimony from a chief superintendent regarding membership allegations, and items discovered during a search of the accused's home. The three-judge court heard that gardaí invoked statutory provisions permitting adverse inferences from the accused's responses during interview. The trial, expected to last five days, continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and two additional judges.

Source: Courts News Ireland This page is a localnews.ie summary and index entry; the full original report may require a publisher subscription.

Source links

Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.

Public source leads

Irish Republican Army - The Irish Times irishtimes.com
May 13, 2026 · This topic contains articles relating to the original IRA from the time of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921).
IRA threat against Irishmen in British Army was taped, trial told - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:00:00 GMT
15 Facts You Didn’t Know About the IRA in Ireland historycollection.com
Sep 16, 2025 · The Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been a pivotal yet contentious force in Irish and British history. Established in 1919, the IRA has engaged in...
IRA - The Irish News irishnews.com
May 12, 2026 · The Irish Republican Army (IRA) has its origins in early 20th century, emerging from the Irish Volunteers and the fight for independence from Britain...

Related court reports

Chief Superintendent believes CIRA statement reader was member of IRA Courts News Ireland · 2013-12-06
A Garda Chief Superintendent has given evidence to the Special Criminal Court that he held the belief Michael Kiely was a member of an unlawful organisation styling...
Wife of CIRA statement reader tells court gardai acknowledged husband was not in IRA Courts News Ireland · 2013-12-11
A man charged with membership of an unlawful organisation has denied the allegation at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Michael Kiely, aged 43, of Abbeyvale,...
Man who read statement threatening Irish in British Army acquitted of IRA membership Courts News Ireland · 2013-12-20
A man has been acquitted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court following a trial centred on a graveside oration he delivered in Limerick in January 2013. The...
IRA accused made no response to certain material questions, trial hears Courts News Ireland · 2017-05-18
A 44-year-old man from Scotstown, County Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army at the...
Louth IRA accused driving in convoy with man found with IEDs, trial hears Courts News Ireland · 2017-05-09
Michael Connolly, aged 44 and resident of Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the...