Colin and Brian Mannion jailed for explosives offence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Colin Mannion and Brian Mannion were each sentenced to five and a half years in prison at the Special Criminal Court on 15 June 2017, with the final two and a half years suspended indefinitely. The proceedings were reported on 15 June 2017.

The brothers pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing RDX, PETN, one loaded detonator, two unloaded detonators and three electrical component parts at their home in Burriscarra, Clogher, Claremorris. The offence occurred on 9 June 2012.

Each man was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the IRA, on 9 June 2012. The State previously entered a nolle prosequi on each membership charge.

The report said armed gardaí raided the family home and found the brothers in a shed. A metal container in the shed held items including detonators and a substance later analysed as RDX and PETN.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt presided with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge Flann Brennan. Mr Justice Hunt said the brothers’ involvement had lasted no more than two to three months and they had not been the initial target of surveillance. He cited their guilty pleas and family circumstances in mitigation.

At the sentence hearing on 14 June 2017, both men gave sworn undertakings to refrain from activities in the future and not associate with members of subversive or paramilitary organisations. The suspension was based on those undertakings. Their sentences were backdated to 7 June 2017.