Courts / Dublin / Report

'Arthur Daley' car dealer vows quashed IRA conviction 'won't be swept under the carpet'

Summary

Robert O'Leary, a 43‑year‑old used‑car salesman from Finglas, was convicted in October 2020 by a Special Criminal Court of membership in the Irish Republican Army (Óglaigh na hÉireann) after a car he sold was used in a bombing. He served three years before the conviction was quashed when it was revealed that the prosecution had not disclosed that the chief witness, Nik Kasapi, was a convicted drug dealer. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, adjourned the case to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide on a retrial. The DPP announced that no fresh proceedings would be brought and O'Leary was released. He has vowed to keep his case public and to challenge the existence of the Special Criminal Court, arguing that he was jailed for a crime he did not commit and that the evidence against him was withheld.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Arthur Daley' car dealer vows quashed IRA conviction 'won't be swept under the carpet'. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• October 2020 Incident
• August 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2016 Incident
• 2022-02-18 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report