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Garda security chief believes seven are IRA members

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2015, Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan of Garda Security and Intelligence presented confidential information, claiming privilege, to support his belief that seven men arrested in a 2013 Garda swoop on a used‑car lot in west Dublin were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Kirwan said the evidence came from human sources and telephone intercepts. The seven men—Kevin Braney (40), Des Christie (50), Hubert Duffy (47), William Jackson (55), Declan Phelan (33), John Brock (42) and Darren Murphy (44)—had been arrested on 29 March 2013 and had pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. Garda searches of the car lot and subsequent vehicle, office and kitchen searches yielded cable ties, balaclavas, a Glock pistol, a baseball bat, a lump hammer, pepper spray and gloves. The prosecution's case relies on surveillance sightings, seized items, the accused's responses to Garda questioning and Kirwan's opinion evidence. The trial remains ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda security chief believes seven are IRA members. 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; membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• March 29th, 2013 Incident
• 2015-03-04 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

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Read the original CNI report