Courts / Monaghan / Report

Monaghan man guilty of IRA membership

Summary

A 55-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has been convicted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army on September 21, 2016. The three-judge court heard evidence that gardaí discovered a metal tube with drilled holes during a search of his property and adjoining lands. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan identified the item as a booster tube used in explosive devices, similar to one previously seized at Kilcurry. The prosecution argued that Cassidy's false denials to gardaí concerning the tube, combined with evidence of mobile phones and a USB key, demonstrated a pattern of behaviour consistent with IRA membership. Mr Justice Tony Hunt rejected the defendant's claim that others had access to the remote shed, stating the likelihood of someone else placing the device was "so remote and fanciful" as to be dismissed. Cassidy was remanded in custody pending sentencing on April 29.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Monaghan man guilty of IRA membership. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 21, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 21 Other
• April 29 Adjournment
• 2019-03-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report