Courts / Limerick / Report

Limerick men jailed for IRA membership

Date
2014-10-31
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Limerick
County
Limerick

Summary

Two men from Limerick, Thomas McMahon, 32, and Noel Noonan, 35, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two-and-a-half years each for membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Both pleaded guilty to a single charge of IRA membership on 7 February 2013. The court was presented with evidence of three rocket launchers, launch tubes and mortar drills seized during the investigation. McMahon, a former chef from Ros Fearna, Murroe, and Noonan, who lived at St. Patrick's Hostel, Clare Street, had previously been convicted of false imprisonment and two threats to kill; Noonan had prior convictions for assault. Both men denied IRA membership and knowledge of the equipment at the time of arrest, but later entered guilty pleas. The judge, Justice Paul Butler, imposed a four‑year sentence, with the final year and a half suspended upon each man's payment of a €500 bond and a promise not to commit further offences or associate with members of unlawful organisations.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Limerick men jailed for IRA membership. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation within the State styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on February 7th, 2013; the single charge of IRA membership. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Noel Noonan

Convicted Person

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation within the State styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on February 7th, 2013; the single charge of IRA membership (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Noel Noonan (right)) Two Limerick men have been jailed for two-and-a-half years each for membership of the IRA last year.; However the final year and a half of each sentence was adjourned when the men each entered a €500 bond to not commit such offences in the future and not to associate with any member of an unlawful organisation or anyone convicted of a scheduled offence in the Special Criminal Court.

Thomas McMahon

Convicted Person

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation within the State styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on February 7th, 2013; the single charge of IRA membership (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Thomas McMahon (Left) and Noel Noonan (right)) Two Limerick men have been jailed for two-and-a-half years each for membership of the IRA last year.; However the final year and a half of each sentence was adjourned when the men each entered a €500 bond to not commit such offences in the future and not to associate with any member of an unlawful organisation or anyone convicted of a scheduled offence in the Special Criminal Court.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • The Special Criminal Court
  • Special Criminal Court
Residence
Address Area
  • Tivoli Road

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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