Courts / Dublin / Report

Sentence upheld for "active service" IRA member

Date
2018-10-19
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Ryan Glennon, 28, of Dublin, was convicted by the second Special Criminal Court in 2016 for membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court found his fingerprints on a handcart and his DNA on gloves at his parents' holiday home in Courtown, Co. Wexford, where explosives and rockets were stored. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 5 December 2016. In October 2018, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and the sentence, ruling that Glennon was an "active service" member of an unlawful organisation and had engaged in activities that could endanger many lives. The appeal was dismissed, with the court noting that mitigation factors such as a guilty plea or cooperation were not present. The final sentence remained six years, with no reduction or suspension applied.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sentence upheld for "active service" IRA member. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: The case was the first trial at the 'second' Special Criminal Court, which became operational in 2016 because of a two-year delay in cases coming to trial at the original non-jury court. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ryan Glennon

Appellant

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Mr Justice Robert Eagar, presiding alongside Judge Sinéad Ni Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan, found Glennon guilty of IRA membership and sentenced him to six years imprisonment on December 5, 2016. Glennon lost an appeal against the severity of his sentence today, with the Court of Appeal holding that he was not just a member of an illegal organisation but was on "active service" and engaged in activities with the potential to endanger the lives of many people.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence
Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
  • Courtown
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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