Courts / Dublin / Report

Bomb maker released under Good Friday Agreement tried to renew false passport

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Donal Gannon, 58, a former bomb maker convicted in London in 1997 for conspiracy to cause explosions and sentenced to 35 years, was found to have attempted to renew an Irish passport in the name of David O'Brien, a man who died in 1986. Gannon, released under the Good Friday Agreement in 2000, pleaded guilty to providing false information and documents for the passport renewal between 7 May and 30 May 2017, and to using a false instrument at Kevin's Street Garda Station on 7 May 2017. Gardaí obtained CCTV footage that identified Gannon as the person presenting the passport, and seized a mobile phone with the same number used in the application. Gannon denied making the application, claiming the photographs were planted. The court noted his nine previous convictions, including assault and attempted burglary, and adjourned the case for finalisation on 25 November, with Gannon remaining on bail.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bomb maker released under Good Friday Agreement tried to renew false passport. Charges or matters: providing information and documents which were and he knew to be false and misleading in connection with a passport application for the renewal of an Irish passport in the name David O'Brien at an unknown location in the State on an unknown date between May 7, 2017 and May 30, 2017; using a false instrument at Kevin's Street Garda Station, Kevin's Street, Dublin 8, on May 7, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• July 1997 Incident
• May 7, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 30, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• August 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 23, 1963 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 25 Adjournment
• 2006 and 2016 Other
• 2001 and 2005 Other
• 2020-11-11 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report