Surveillance gardai give evidence in absence of public in non-jury court trial

Eight Dublin men appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 29 January 2015, charged with membership of an illegal organisation on 29 March 2013. All have pleaded not guilty. Members of the public were excluded during evidence from the Garda National Surveillance Unit, with six members' identities protected. A surveillance officer testified to observing some accused at Charlestown Shopping Centre in Finglas and others at a used car lot in Clondalkin on the morning in question. Following arrests by the Emergency Response Unit at the Clondalkin premises, gardai recovered cable ties, balaclavas, a Glock pistol, baseball bat, and pepper spray. The prosecution outlined its case would rely on surveillance observations, recovered items, interviews conducted at various garda stations, and expert opinion evidence. The trial was continuing.