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Cork man who told gardai he was on "drinking session" and didn't know about half-a-tonne of fertiliser in van is convicted of IRA membership

Summary

A Cork man has been convicted of membership of the Irish Republican Army at the Special Criminal Court following a trial centred on the discovery of half-a-tonne of fertiliser in a van he was driving in Monaghan. Martin McHale, aged 53, had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that McHale told gardaí he had travelled to Monaghan for a social visit and was unaware of the ammonium nitrate-based fertiliser bags found in the borrowed vehicle. Detective gardaí became suspicious after observing two men in a van at a filling station in Monaghan town on the night in question, and subsequent searches revealed ten 50kg bags of fertiliser. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy found McHale guilty, stating the three-judge court was satisfied the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The judge determined McHale's account lacked credibility and noted his failure to answer material questions during garda interviews. McHale was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on March 6th.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cork man who told gardai he was on "drinking session" and didn't know about half-a-tonne of fertiliser in van is convicted of IRA membership. 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
• March 6 Adjournment
• 2017-02-22 Publication

Why: It was irrelevant, Ms Justice Kennedy said, that McHale provided a reason for his failure – that he didn't want to get his friend in trouble. CNI source report

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Read the original CNI report