Brian Kenna refused bail variation over IRA membership charge

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Brian Kenna was refused a bail variation at the Special Criminal Court on 21 January 2016.

He faced a charge of membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army or IRA, on 21 November 2015. The report said he had been arrested in Co Laois in November by members of the Special Detective Unit.

Brian Kenna sought permission to drive his wife to a wreath-laying ceremony in Belfast on 30 January for former INLA chief-of-staff Gino Gallagher, a relative of hers. He told the court that his wife walked with crutches and that he would drive her but would not attend the commemoration.

Det Insp William Hanrahan, of the Special Detective Unit, told the three-judge, non-jury court that gardaí opposed the application. He said Brian Kenna had been arrested outside Portlaoise prison with documents intended for people in Northern Ireland, assessed as being intended for senior IRA members. Brian Kenna denied the detective’s allegation that he had certain documents when arrested.

The detective expressed “a serious concern” that people convicted or charged with a scheduled offence would attend the commemoration. The court also heard that Brian Kenna belonged to the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association, which provides liaison between republican prisoners and their families.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said the court accepted Brian Kenna’s presumption of innocence and recognised that bail conditions infringed his liberty. However, he said his partner could go without him, adding: “In those circumstances, we have no hesitation to refuse.”