Courts / Dublin / Report

Non-jury court to rule on admissibility of search warrant evidence next week

Date
2015-06-19
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court will decide next week whether evidence from a search warrant and the arrest of seven Dublin men can be admitted. The men, accused of IRA membership, were found in a Tallaght house where police discovered two packages of tightly folded paper wrapped in clingfilm, allegedly communications from prisoners at Portlaoise Prison. The prosecution argued that the men were holding an IRA meeting to discuss these communications. The seven accused—Brian Nick Mc Bennett, Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan and Desmond Christie—have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The court is conducting a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the search warrant evidence and the arrests, with a ruling expected next Tuesday at 2 pm before a full six‑week hearing begins.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Non-jury court to rule on admissibility of search warrant evidence next week. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Case subjects

Brian Nick Mc Bennett

Defendant

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Declan Phelan

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Desmond Christie

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

John Brock

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Kevin Braney

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Michael Barr

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Peter Burns

Defendant

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • The Special Criminal Court
Secondary Mention
Incident
Facility
Residence

Topics

Stage Trial

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