Court convicts man over training mortar find

A man has been convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation by the Special Criminal Court following a trial in Dublin. Julian Flohr, aged 37, of Rusheen Ard, Caltragh, Sligo, was found guilty of the charge relating to 14 August 2016. Evidence presented to the three-judge court established that Flohr was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by gardaí in the Dromahair area of County Leitrim. A training mortar was recovered from the car in a backpack. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated the court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the mortar was being transported on behalf of an unlawful organisation and that Flohr was present for that purpose. The judge cited supporting evidence including the remote location, time of night, and the nervous conduct of both occupants. Flohr was remanded in custody pending sentencing. A co-accused, Damien McFadden, aged 29, of Kilmacowen, Ballysodare, Sligo, previously pleaded guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation by transporting the device and was remanded on bail for sentencing.