Courts / Dublin / Report

Gardai had weapons drawn during arrest of IRA accused, trial hears

Date
2018-07-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A Dublin man, Donal O'Ceallaigh, 33, was arrested at the crowded entrance of St James' Hospital by armed gardai, some with weapons drawn, during a Special Criminal Court hearing. O'Ceallaigh, along with Jonathan Hawthorn, 45, and James Geraghty, 61, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court heard that the arrest followed a tip from an FBI agent who had monitored Darknet activity and received a message from a user named 'Meat Cleaver' seeking Semtex. A mock‑explosive package was sent to Geraghty's Dolphin House address, delivered by a garda disguised as a DHL driver. Hawthorn signed for the package in Geraghty's name. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce testified that he detained O'Ceallaigh at 11.32 am under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, noting that firearms were drawn and a large crowd was present. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gardai had weapons drawn during arrest of IRA accused, trial hears. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-07-11 Publication

Case subjects

Donal O'Ceallaigh

Defendant

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, of the Special Detective Unit, gave evidence today of the arrest and detention of Mr O'Ceallaigh.

James Geraghty

Defendant

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Jonathan Hawthorn

Defendant

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty