Courts / Dublin / Report

Head of Special Detective Unit gives belief evidence at IRA trial

Date
2018-11-06

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, is standing trial in the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership of the IRA on November 24, 2015. As the accused made no reply when the charge was put, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, gave belief evidence that Metcalfe was an IRA member on that date, claiming privilege over the underlying material to protect state security. He stated he relied on no material regarding Metcalfe's arrest or detention. Fingerprint evidence linked Metcalfe to a document found in the home of David Murray, who was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Metcalfe denied IRA membership, surveillance activities, and knowledge of convicted IRA member Kenneth Donohue during interviews where he invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998. The prosecution will formally close its case on Thursday morning before closing speeches commence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Head of Special Detective Unit gives belief evidence at IRA trial. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 24, 2015; IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 24, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
November 24 Incident
March 25, 2015 Incident
November 25 Hearing Or Sentence
June 3, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-11-06 Publication

Case subjects

Conor Metcalfe

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 24, 2015; IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Det Supt Howard gave evidence that he had relied on no material in relation to Mr Metcalfe's arrest or detention. The court has heard that Murray of Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, Dublin 11, was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years.