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'Trusted' IRA man who took part in interrogations appeals conviction
Summary
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Damien Metcalfe, 34, who was convicted of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and jailed for two years and six months by the Special Criminal Court in May 2019. The appeal argued that the key evidence was the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who claimed Metcalfe was an IRA member. The appellant's counsel said Howard's belief evidence was unsubstantiated, that Howard failed to revise the file on which his belief was based, and that his cross‑examination was obstructive and evasive. The defence also alleged that Howard asserted privilege and made contradictory statements. The DPP's counsel countered that the belief evidence was weakened but not dismissed, and that corroborating evidence was strong. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment, noting that it had previously upheld convictions and sentences in similar IRA‑inquiry cases.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Trusted' IRA man who took part in interrogations appeals conviction. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 24, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- November 24, 2015 Incident
- May 2019 Incident
- August 7 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 7th Other
- August 8th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-05-13 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 24, 2015 (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; In May 2019, the defendant was jailed by the non-jury Special Criminal Court for two years and six months. In February of this year, five people jailed for their roles in the IRA "inquiry" of suspected informants in a Dublin suburb lost appeals against their convictions after having been found guilty following a trial at the Special Criminal Court in June 2018.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Special Criminal Court
- The Special Criminal Court
- Riverwood Park
Topics
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