Courts / Meath / Report

Meath man linked to Newry courthouse bomb is found guilty of IRA membership

Summary

A 45‑year‑old Meath man, Darren Weldon, was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The conviction was based on DNA evidence linking Weldon to a car registration plate recovered from the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Garda DNA swabs taken from Weldon matched the DNA profile on the plate. Weldon had previously denied membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) when he was charged on 14 October 2014. He had been arrested in September 2012 for suspected IRA membership after attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, a former "Real IRA" member who was killed in 2012. During the trial, a WhatsApp message on Weldon's phone praising Alan Ryan was presented, and Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan testified that confidential information indicated Weldon's IRA membership. Weldon was remanded in custody until 16 January, when sentencing will occur.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Meath man linked to Newry courthouse bomb is found guilty of IRA membership. Charges or matters: IRA membership. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 22nd, 2010 Incident
• October 14th, 2014 Incident
• September 2012 Incident
• January 16th Adjournment
• 2016-12-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

Related court reports

• Museum employee charged with possessing bomb tells court he wants to reapply for bail 'at earliest chance'
• Explosive device allegedly stored in National Museum at Collins' Barracks
• Man jailed over dangerous driving incident as passenger begged him to stop
• Serial burglar with 176 convictions jailed for four years
• Double murder accused feared she would become victim of human trafficking, pastor tells trial
• Drunk driving conviction overturned as judge finds validity of arrest in question

Read the original CNI report