Courts / Dublin / Report

"Trusted" IRA man fails in appeal based on anonymity of witnesses

Summary

Jonathan Hawthorn, a 45‑year‑old former IRA member, was convicted of membership in an unlawful organisation and sentenced to five years' imprisonment in October 2018. He appealed on the basis that six witnesses, including an undercover FBI agent and Garda National Surveillance Unit officers, had been granted anonymity. The Court of Appeal held that anonymity was permissible under the Special Criminal Court's rules and that the defence was not disadvantaged. The court noted that the witnesses' anonymity was granted for operational and safety reasons, and that the trial's fairness was not compromised. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and Hawthorn's conviction and sentence were upheld. The decision reaffirmed that the Special Criminal Court may grant anonymity to witnesses when justified by security concerns.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Trusted" IRA man fails in appeal based on anonymity of witnesses. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on September 14, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• September 14, 2016 Incident
• 2020-04-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report