Courts / Sligo / Report

Mortar round found inside "Spiderman" backpack, IRA trial hears

Summary

Two men from County Sligo are on trial at the Special Criminal Court charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Julian Flohr, aged 37, of Caltragh, and Damhan McFadden, aged 29, of Ballysodare, were arrested on 14 August 2016 following the discovery of a mortar round in a children's backpack during a vehicle search in the Dromahair area of County Leitrim. The prosecution alleges that gardaí recovered the device, wrapped in black material, from behind the driver's seat of a black Saab car. McFadden pleaded not guilty to the charge; Flohr's silence was recorded as a not guilty plea. The prosecution case, opened by Fiona Murphy SC, will rely on garda evidence, interviews conducted under the Offences Against the State Act, and searches of the accused men's homes. Evidence heard today from Garda Eamonn McDonnell described the circumstances of the discovery and subsequent examination of the item. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, is expected to last three weeks.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mortar round found inside "Spiderman" backpack, IRA trial hears. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• August 14, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• August 14 Incident
• August 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2018-11-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report