Courts / Dublin / Report
Newry bombing accused acquitted after DNA evidence found unreliable
Summary
The Special Criminal Court has acquitted Darren Weldon of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 14, 2014. Weldon, who pleaded not guilty, was previously convicted of the same offence in January 2017 and sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final year suspended. That conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in June 2018, resulting in the current retrial. The prosecution's case relied primarily on the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, supported by alleged independent strands including a DNA match to a number plate from the 2010 Newry courthouse bombing, an image of Alan Ryan on Weldon's phone, and adverse inferences from interviews. The court found that the integrity of the number plate was not properly preserved, rendering the DNA evidence unreliable. It also could not draw inferences regarding the phone image or the interviews, as the solicitor's objections to the arrest's lawfulness were reasonable. Consequently, the court found the belief evidence unsupported by independent evidence and acquitted Weldon. This decision follows the procedural stage of an appeal that overturned the prior conviction.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Newry bombing accused acquitted after DNA evidence found unreliable. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 14, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 22, 2010 Incident
- October 14, 2014 Incident
- October 14 Incident
- January 2017 Incident
- June 2018 Incident
- 2019-08-01 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Outcome: Detective Inspector William Hanrahan, of the Special Detective Unit (SDU), gave evidence that he was present at the Special Criminal Court in 2001 when Alan Ryan was sentenced to four years in prison for "training in the use of firearms" at Stamullen, Co Meath in 1999.
Defendant
Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 14, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: The witness gave evidence that he did not base his belief on any matter discovered at the time of Mr Weldon's arrest and detention.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Newry
- Newry courthouse
Topics
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