Courts / Dublin / Report

Trial of eight accused of IRA membership hears how "everything changed" two days after arrest

Date
2015-02-05

Stage
Trial

Court
Alison O'Riordan The Special Criminal Court

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 February 2015, eight men were tried for alleged membership in the Irish Republican Army. The defendants – Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock and Darren Murphy – all pleaded not guilty. The case centred on a Garda operation on 29 March 2013 at a used‑car lot in Clondalkin, where the men were arrested after a raid that followed an alleged extortion claim involving the owner of Crystal Cars, Jonathan McSharry. Detective Inspector Michael Gibbons testified that he had been informed that McSharry was being extorted by the IRA and that the men were "significant members" of the organisation. Gibbons described the arrest, the handling of McSharry, and the subsequent change in the Garda's perception of the situation. The trial was conducted before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge William Hamill in a non‑jury court. The proceedings remain ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial of eight accused of IRA membership hears how "everything changed" two days after arrest. Charges or matters: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29, 2013; membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 29, 2013 Other
March 29 Incident
2015-02-05 Publication

Why: Det Insp Gibbons told the court he was "very concerned about the garage because of confidential information he had received and that the people who had gone there were significant members of the IRA. CNI source report

Case subjects

Darren Murphy

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)

Declan Phelan

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)

Des Christie

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)

Eamon McNamee

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)

Hubert Duffy

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)

John Brock

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)

Kevin Braney

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Unnamed accused

Accused

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

William Jackson

Defendant

Charges: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (Alleged Or Contested)