Courts / Dublin / Report

"Full use" to be made of second Special Criminal Court until removed by legislation: judge

Date
2019-08-26

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

During a bail hearing for Robert O'Leary, 41, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, a senior judge, stated that the second Special Criminal Court will continue to be used fully until legislation removes it. He noted that newspaper reports suggesting the court's suspension were new to the judges. Hunt said the court, established in 2015 and first sitting in 2016, will be used to give people the earliest possible trial dates. He also mentioned that the Department of Justice had cleared the backlog that had caused a two‑year wait for trials in 2016. O'Leary, arrested by the Special Detective Unit in connection with a car bomb found under a police officer's car in Belfast, was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation and was released on bail of €100 with a €10,000 surety, pending a book of evidence to be served on October 21.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Full use" to be made of second Special Criminal Court until removed by legislation: judge. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on August 20, 2019. Procedural stage: trial

When:

October 28, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
May 6, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
August 20, 2019 Adjournment
October 21 Adjournment
2019-08-26 Publication

Case subjects

Robert O'Leary

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on August 20, 2019 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: The accused man was remanded on bail until October 21, when a book of evidence is expected to be served on him.