Courts / Dublin / Report

Purpose of garda swoop on used car lot was for "preservation of life", trial hears

Date
2015-02-06

Stage
Trial

Court
Alison O'Riordan The Special Criminal Court

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court trial of eight men accused of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29, 2013, heard evidence regarding a Garda operation at a used car lot in Clondalkin. Kevin Braney, Des Christie, Eamon McNamee, Hubert Duffy, William Jackson, Declan Phelan, John Brock, and Darren Murphy have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged charges. Detective Sergeant John Holland testified that the primary purpose of the entry was the preservation of life, following reports of an immediate threat to the safety of the yard's owner by the IRA. The court heard that William Jackson, Darren Murphy, and John Brock were restrained and flexi-cuffed after being removed from a van. Detective Sergeant Donal Prenty stated that pepper spray, cable ties, balaclavas, gloves, and a Glock handgun were found on the premises. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay, and Judge William Hamill.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Purpose of garda swoop on used car lot was for "preservation of life", trial hears. 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 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-02-06 Publication

Case subjects

Darren Murphy

Defendant

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

Plea: Not guilty

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)

Plea: Not guilty

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)

Plea: Not guilty