Martin McHale loses appeal over IRA membership conviction

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

Martin McHale’s appeal against his conviction for IRA membership was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 31 July 2018. The conviction concerned membership of an unlawful organisation on 2 November 2013. The court upheld the trial court’s findings about his arrest, evidence from Assistant Commissioner Finn, answers concerning the van and gloves, and possession of fertiliser capable of being used to produce explosives.

The Court of Appeal found that the trial court was entitled to conclude that the arrest was lawful and that the questions about the van and gloves were material. It also held there was ample evidence supporting the finding that Mr McHale was in possession of the fertiliser.

The appeal was dismissed, leaving the Special Criminal Court conviction in place. The judgment records that the original trial court gave its judgment on 22 February 2017.