Courts / Dublin / Report
IRA member jailed for four years
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Monastery Park, Clondalkin, was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment, backdated to 10 December 2018. The court relied on belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who asserted Metcalfe was a member on 24 November 2015 based on material reviewed, and on inferences drawn from Metcalfe's failure to answer questions under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. The judge noted Metcalfe's persistent and active membership, though not a high‑level member, and applied a 10% discount for modest mitigating factors. Metcalfe had 13 prior convictions, mainly for criminal damage, public order offences and drunk driving, dating back to 2009. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne presiding.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: IRA member jailed for four years. Charges or matters: IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. "In respect of the questions that weren't answered, I will be asking the court to draw inferences," she said. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- November 24, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2015 Other
- December 10, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 24 Incident
- August 7, 2015 Other
- March 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-02-18 Publication
Why: Referring to Metcalfe, the judge explained that none of the facts in the case suggested the defendant was a "high level member" but he had "repeated, voluntary and intentional" association with convicted members of the IRA. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. "In respect of the questions that weren't answered, I will be asking the court to draw inferences," she said (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Sentencing Metcalfe today, Mr Justice Hunt, who sat with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, sentenced him to four years and six months imprisonment, backdated to December 10, 2018 when he went into custody. Brennan was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005.
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