Martin McHale jailed for IRA membership

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

Martin McHale was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for IRA membership by the non-jury Special Criminal Court. The report said sentencing took place on Thursday. The proceedings were reported on 18 March 2017.

The charge alleged IRA membership on 2 November 2013. He had denied the charge. The court found him guilty in February.

Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding alongside Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton, said the court was satisfied McHale knew the van’s contents and was a “trusted transporter” of the fertiliser. She said the court considered belief evidence, his garda interviews, forensic evidence and his activities at the relevant time.

Gardaí found 500kg of agricultural fertiliser in the van in Monaghan. Forensic analysis of a glove found on the passenger side revealed traces of fertiliser and McHale’s DNA. McHale told gardaí he had borrowed a friend’s van to go to Monaghan for “a drinking session” and was unaware of the bags in the rear. The court found his answers about his knowledge of the fertiliser “false and misleading”.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn told the trial he believed McHale was an IRA member and that the information underlying his belief was “reliable and accurate”.

Justice Kennedy said McHale had no relevant previous convictions, settled family circumstances and limited education, and deserved credit for his approach to the case. His counsel Blaise O’Carroll SC submitted testimonials which, he said, described McHale’s gentle character and helpfulness towards his neighbours.