Courts / Dublin / Report

IRA accused arrested in run-up to royal visit, court hears

Date
2016-11-28

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

During a sentencing hearing in the Special Criminal Court, Donal O Coisdealbha, a 25‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was arrested on 13 May 2015 after a Garda investigation that had followed him for months. The investigation uncovered explosive device components in his Maynooth University locker and in a house at Harbour Court, Courtown, Wexford. Items seized included improvised rockets, semtex, detonators, a time‑power unit, a broken circuit board, and a PIC chip. DNA evidence linked O Coisdealbha to the devices. Garda audio surveillance revealed discussions about building an artillery rocket and a planned event around the time of Prince Charles's visit. O Coisdealbha denied IRA membership during detention. He has no prior convictions and was remanded in custody until 6 December for sentencing. The maximum sentence for belonging to a dissident republican terrorist organisation is eight years.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: IRA accused arrested in run-up to royal visit, court hears. Charges or matters: IRA membership was arrested in the run-up to Prince Charles' visit to Ireland and had explosive device components in his locker at Maynooth University, the Special Criminal Court has heard; membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann otherwise the IRA within the State on May 13th, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 13th, 2015 Incident
May 13, 2015 Incident
May 2015 Incident
January 2015 Incident
March 14, 2015 Incident
April 19, 2015 Other
May 9, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
May 10, 2015 Incident
May 13 Hearing Or Sentence
May 10 Hearing Or Sentence
May 19 Other
December 6 Adjournment
2016-11-28 Publication

Case subjects

Prince Charles

Defendant

Charges: IRA membership was arrested in the run-up to Prince Charles' visit to Ireland and had explosive device components in his locker at Maynooth University, the Special Criminal Court has heard; membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann otherwise the IRA within the State on May 13th, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy presiding, with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, remanded O Coisdealbha in custody until December 6, when he will be sentenced.; Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy presiding, with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, remanded O Coisdealbha in custody until December 6, when he will be sentenced.