A dissident republican leader has been jailed for eleven and a half years by the Special Criminal Court following his conviction of directing the activities of an unlawful organisation. Seamus McGrane, aged 63, of Dromiskin, County Louth, was found guilty in October of directing a splinter group styling itself the Irish Republican Army between April and May 2015. The court heard evidence from audio recordings of McGrane discussing an explosives operation planned to coincide with a State visit by Prince Charles. The proposed target was identified as the Cross of Sacrifice monument in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. Gardaí arrested McGrane six days before the planned attack and recovered significant quantities of explosive material, detonators, and weaponry from properties in Louth and Wexford, as well as Maynooth University. McGrane, only the second person convicted of directing terrorism in the State, also received a concurrent six-and-a-half-year sentence for IRA membership. His associate received five and a half years imprisonment.
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Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.
Public source leads
- In pictures: Prince Charles and Camilla visit Ireland and enjoy the Sligo Races - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Wed, 20 May 2015 07:00:00 GMT
- Prince Charles tours Sligo town where his great-uncle died - Irish Examiner Irish Examiner · Mon, 20 Jul 2020 08:13:35 GMT
- Prince Charles: The compassion shown by Mullaghmore community aided 'the healing process' for Lord Mountbatten's family - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Wed, 20 May 2015 07:00:00 GMT
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