Pensioner fails in appeal against IRA membership conviction

A 71-year-old Dublin man has lost his appeal against a conviction for IRA membership imposed by the Special Criminal Court in February 2011. Barry Fitzpatrick, formerly of Donegal connections, received a three-year sentence which he has since completed, being released in June 2013. He was convicted of membership of an organisation styling itself on the Irish Republican Army on the basis of events occurring on 4 January 2009. Mr Justice John Murray, presiding at the Court of Criminal Appeal, ruled that the grounds of appeal were not well founded and dismissed the case. The trial had heard evidence that Fitzpatrick was arrested in Dublin 18 as he attempted to enter an apartment complex. Detectives had observed him driving between locations in company with others, and a separate vehicle was found to contain firearms and ammunition. A subsequent search of the apartment yielded additional revolvers.