Courts / Dublin / Report

Judges in IRA trial to return verdict Friday

Date
2016-11-09
Stage
Charge Or Pretrial
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Ryan Glennon of Macken Villas, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to alleged IRA membership. Prosecutor Tara Burns SC presented evidence mainly from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed, based on confidential information, that Glennon was an IRA member. Burns cited Glennon's failure to answer questions during Garda interviews and alleged forensic links: fingerprints on a handcart and DNA in gloves from a kitchen, alongside a large array of explosive materials found in a house in Courttown on 13 May 2015. Glennon's defence, led by Hugh Hartnett SC, challenged the reliance on opinion evidence and the absence of any prior statements from a chief superintendent, arguing that the evidence was "bare opinion" and that no explosives were found on the day Glennon was observed. Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, postponed the verdict until Friday afternoon.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judges in IRA trial to return verdict Friday. Charges or matters: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on May 13th, 2015. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

Why: Mr Hartnett said that the court must ask if the only possible reason for Mr Glennon's refusal to answer material questions was evidence of guilt of IRA membership. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ryan Glennon

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on May 13th, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
Secondary Mention
Residence

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request