Courts / Donegal / Report

Jail for IRA man caught with assault rifles in Slane

Date
2016-07-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Donegal

County
Donegal

Summary

Shane Rowan, aged 39, from Forest Park, Killygordan, County Donegal, has been sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for possession of three assault rifles and ammunition discovered in his vehicle in Slane, County Meath on 9 March 2016. He received an additional four-year sentence for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, with both sentences to run concurrently. Rowan pleaded guilty to possessing a Chinese Type 56, Romanian PM63, and Zastava M70 rifle, along with associated magazines and 153 rounds of assorted ammunition. He also admitted to IRA membership. The court heard gardaí had monitored his movements as he collected the firearms in Dublin before travelling through Northern Ireland to Donegal. Mr Justice Paul Butler noted Rowan's early guilty plea to all counts as a mitigating factor, describing such cooperation as unusual. The sentences were backdated to the date of his arrest.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for IRA man caught with assault rifles in Slane. Charges or matters: the possession of three assault rifles, including a Chinese Type 56, a Romanian PM63 and a Zastava M70, as well as three magazines suitable for use in each rifle, at Tuiterath, Balrath, Slane, County Meath on March 9th this year; two counts of possessing ammunition; membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, also on the same date; all counts on the indictment"; the IRA membership charge. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 9th Incident
2016-07-27 Publication

Case subjects

County Donegal

Accused

Charges: the possession of three assault rifles, including a Chinese Type 56, a Romanian PM63 and a Zastava M70, as well as three magazines suitable for use in each rifle, at Tuiterath, Balrath, Slane, County Meath on March 9th this year; two counts of possessing ammunition; membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, also on the same date; all counts on the indictment"; the IRA membership charge (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Shane Rowan

Convicted Person

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Shane Rowan (39), who appeared at the Special Criminal Court today, was also sentenced to four years in prison for IRA membership. The court also sentenced Rowan to four years imprisonment for IRA membership.