Courts / Meath / Report
DNA found in Newry bomb debris matches IRA accused, trial told
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dr John Gibson presented DNA evidence linking Darren Weldon, 45, to a number plate recovered from the debris of a 2010 car bomb that detonated outside Newry courthouse. Gibson compared a DNA sample from Weldon to a profile obtained from the UK forensic services, concluding the probability of a coincidental match was "considerably less than one in a thousand million." He acknowledged uncertainty about how the DNA was deposited and its age, noting secondary and tertiary transfer were possible. Assistant scientific officer Chloe Holland had earlier recovered DNA from the top and bottom edges of the plate, while senior scientist Jonathan Irons reported receiving the plate on 3 March 2010. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, continues with Weldon pleading not guilty to IRA membership charges.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: DNA found in Newry bomb debris matches IRA accused, trial told. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 14th, 2014. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- October 14th, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 22nd, 2010 Other
- March 3rd, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-11-29 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 14th, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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