IRA man to be sentenced next month

A 56-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court next month. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty in March following a trial before three judges. During the proceedings, gardaí gave evidence of discovering a metal pipe with drilled holes in a shed on his property in September 2016, which was identified as a booster tube similar to items seized in a separate investigation nearby. The court accepted the belief evidence of a chief superintendent regarding Cassidy's membership of the organisation and determined the presence of the device on his remote, family-owned premises to be significant. The defence counsel urged leniency, highlighting Cassidy's minimal previous convictions and age. Cassidy was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 27 May.