Courts / Louth / Report
Dissident leader to be sentenced over Royal visit explosion plot
Summary
Seamus McGrane, 63, of Dromiskin, County Louth, was remanded in custody until December 7 for sentencing at the Special Criminal Court. He was convicted last month of directing the activities of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the IRA, between April 19 and May 13, 2015, and of IRA membership between January 18, 2010, and May 13, 2015. McGrane denied both charges. The court found he discussed an operation involving explosives in the run-up to Prince Charles's State visit. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire outlined evidence from audio recordings at The Coachman's Inn in Swords, where McGrane allegedly directed Donal O'Coisdealbha regarding explosives and a specific operation. McGrane is the second person convicted of directing terrorism in the State, following Michael McKevitt, who was jailed for 20 years in 2003. Defense counsel Michael O' Higgins SC argued the case is distinct from McKevitt's, noting McGrane's group was a splinter organisation with no fatalities. He highlighted that co-accused O'Coisdealbha received a five-and-a-half-year sentence for membership. Ms Justice Kennedy, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and Cormac Dunne, adjourned the matter, remanding McGrane in custody until December 7 when he will be sentenced.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dissident leader to be sentenced over Royal visit explosion plot. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- April 19th Hearing Or Sentence
- May 13th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 31 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 18th, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 19, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 10, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2015 Other
- April 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 4, 2015 Incident
- April 12, 2010 Incident
- May 13, 2015 Incident
- May 13 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 7 Adjournment
- 2017-11-14 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Outcome: Under cross-examination, Det Spt Maguire agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that there has been one previous conviction in this jurisdiction for directing terrorism in the State and that related to Michael McKevitt, who was jailed for 20 years in 2003.; Ms Justice Kennedy, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded McGrane in custody until December 7, when he will be sentenced.
Convicted Person
Outcome: Michael McKevitt was jailed for 20 years in 2003 for directing terrorism.
Convicted Person
Outcome: Credit: Collins) A dissident republican leader who plotted an explosion during the State visit of Britain's Prince Charles two years ago will be sentenced next month at the Special Criminal Court for directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.
Places mentioned
Topics
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