Courts / Dublin / Report

Landlord tells trial he lent alleged IRA meeting house "as a favour"

Date
2018-01-19

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of five accused individuals, with proceedings continuing before Justice Isobel Kennedy. Kevin Hannaway and Eva Shannon have pleaded not guilty to charges of knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, alleged to be the IRA, by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway have pleaded not guilty to membership of the same organisation on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC read a statement from landlord Paul Keegan, who alleged he lent the property to a friend's relatives as a favour. Keegan described observing men in the house, noting closed curtains and a smell of smoke, before police broke down the door. A National Surveillance Unit detective sergeant testified that he observed David Nooney at the property on August 7 and 8, 2015, including instances of Nooney moving items into the house. The witness stated his brief was solely to observe Nooney and he could not recall being informed the house was under surveillance. The trial is at the charge or pre-trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue on Monday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Landlord tells trial he lent alleged IRA meeting house "as a favour". Charges or matters: knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, namely with Sean Hannaway, assisting in interviewing persons involved in IRA organised criminal activities, said interviews being directly or indirectly in the furtherance of an unlawful object, at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15 on August 7th and 8th, 2015; the same offence on the same dates; membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on August 8th, 2015. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

August 7 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
Friday, August 7 Other
August 7th Incident
August 8th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
August 7 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-01-19 Publication

Why: That Friday, August 7, Mr Keegan drove to Riverwood Park because he wanted to make sure a skip had been removed from in front of the house. CNI source report

Case subjects

David Nooney

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on August 8th, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Edward O'Brien

Accused

Plea: Not guilty

Eva Shannon

Co Accused

Charges: the same offence on the same dates; membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on August 8th, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Kevin Hannaway

Accused

Charges: knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, namely with Sean Hannaway, assisting in interviewing persons involved in IRA organised criminal activities, said interviews being directly or indirectly in the furtherance of an unlawful object, at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15 on August 7th and 8th, 2015; the same offence on the same dates; membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on August 8th, 2015 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Seán Hannaway

Accused

Plea: Not guilty