Courts / Dublin / Report
Man cleared of withholding information on David Black murder to stand trial for IRA membership
Summary
Vincent Banks, 46, of Dublin 7, was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of withholding information about the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black, which occurred between 10 October and 20 December 2012. The court found that Banks' arrest on suspicion of IRA membership was unlawful because it lacked a warrant and the offence of membership is continuous. Banks was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 18 December 2012 and had been remanded on that count until after the withholding‑information trial. The court ruled that the unlawful arrest did not affect the withholding‑information charge, so the trial proceeded. Mr Michael Bowman BL informed the court that the membership case would continue, and a trial date was set for 17 November 2015, with Banks remanded on bail until then. Vincent Banks pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man cleared of withholding information on David Black murder to stand trial for IRA membership. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- October 10th Hearing Or Sentence
- December 20th, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 18th, 2012 Adjournment
- November 17, 2015 Adjournment
- November 1, 2012 Adjournment
- 2014-04-09 Publication
Why: Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said that Mr Banks was on bail and the court should not discommode people in custody because of this. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Outcome: He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on December 18th, 2012, and had been remanded on that count until after judgement in the withholding information trial.
Accused
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on December 18th, 2012, and had been remanded on that count until after judgement in the withholding information trial.
Places mentioned
- Northern Ireland prison
- Special Criminal Court
Topics
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