Courts / Dublin / Report

"Hooded man" Hannaway jailed despite defence appeals over "threat to life"

Date
2018-07-31

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Kevin Hannaway, a 70‑year‑old from Belfast, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to three years and nine months in prison for aiding the IRA in interrogations that led to arrests. The court reduced the original six‑year sentence because of his age and serious PTSD, which includes anxiety attacks, heart problems, nightmares and physical symptoms triggered by prison conditions. Hannaway was one of several men interned at a secret base in Derry in 1971 where he endured inhumane treatment, including white noise and deprivation of sleep, food and drink. The European Court of Human Rights described that treatment as inhumane and degrading. The court also sentenced his co‑accused: Seán Hannaway to five years and six months, David Nooney to three years and nine months, Edward O'Brien to 16 months, and Eva Shannon to four years. All five were granted legal aid for appeal. Eva Shannon was found guilty. Kevin Hannaway was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Hooded man" Hannaway jailed despite defence appeals over "threat to life". 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, those 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. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty; Convicted

When:

August 8th, 2015 Other
August 7th Incident
2018-07-31 Publication

Case subjects

David Nooney

Convicted Person

Edward O'Brien

Convicted Person

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, those 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 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Edward O'Brien had only a "limited role," Ms Justice Kennedy said, as she sentenced him to 16 months.

Eva Shannon

Convicted Person

Charges: the same offence (Proven)

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; The court considered Ms Shannon to have a more marginal role than Kevin Hannaway and said that five and a half years would be the appropriate sentence but reduced that to four years after taking into account that she has no previous convictions and will be imprisoned far from her family, who live in Belfast.

Kevin Hannaway

Convicted Person

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Kevin Hannaway of Colinmill, Belfast, the three-judge court heard that since he was convicted in June and sent to Portlaoise prison he has suffered anxiety attacks and heart problems due to PTSD triggered by his imprisonment. Ms Justice Kennedy said Sean Hannaway had a "central role" in the interrogations as she sentenced him to five years and six months.

Seán Hannaway

Convicted Person