Courts / Dublin / Report

One of eight men accused of IRA membership walks free from court

Date
2015-02-25

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 February 2015, Eamon McNamee, one of eight Dublin men accused of IRA membership, was released after the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi. Prosecutor Tara Burns explained that the DPP would not pursue the charge. The court had earlier ruled that McNamee and three others—Kevin Braney, William Jackson, and Darren Murphy—had not been lawfully arrested during a Garda operation at a car lot in west Dublin. Judge Paul Butler noted that these men had previously been arrested for IRA membership and should not have been rearrested for the same offence without a warrant. The remaining seven accused continue to face trial. The case involved surveillance evidence, seized weapons and equipment, and testimony from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan. The eight men, all pleading not guilty, were charged on 29 March 2013 with membership of an illegal organisation styled the Irish Republican Army.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: One of eight men accused of IRA membership walks free from court. Charges or matters: membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on March 29th, 2013. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

March 29th, 2013 Incident
2015-02-25 Publication

Why: Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, said that the arrests of Mr McNamee, Kevin Braney, William Jackson and Darren Murphy were not lawful because they had previously been arrested for IRA membership and should not have been rearrested for the same offence on a different date without a warrant. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed accused

Accused

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

Plea: Not guilty