Courts / Cork / Report
IRA accused's account to gardai "false and misleading", prosecution tell trial
Summary
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, closing arguments concluded in the trial of a Cork man charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. Martin McHale, aged 53, of Blackwater Grove, Togher, Cork, has pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to 2 November 2013. Prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor contended that Mr McHale's account to gardaí—that he travelled to Monaghan for a social occasion unaware of ten bags of nitrogen fertiliser in the van—was false and deliberately misleading. She highlighted inconsistencies in his statements, his refusal to identify the van's owner, and DNA evidence on gloves recovered from the vehicle. The defence argued Mr McHale cooperated fully with gardaí and may have been unknowingly used by others. The three-judge court, presiding Justice Isobel Kennedy alongside Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton, will deliver judgment on 22 February.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: IRA accused's account to gardai "false and misleading", prosecution tell trial. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on November 2nd, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 2nd, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 22 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-02-16 Publication
Why: There were contradictions in his account and the "ludicrous suggestion" that he drove a diesel powered van belonging to somebody else because diesel was cheaper than petrol used by his own car. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on November 2nd, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: He said Mr McHale made no objection to his detention nor any action taken by the members in charge such as the taking of swabs etc.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
Topics
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