Seamus McGrane jailed for terrorism and IRA membership

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

Seamus McGrane was jailed for more than 11 years by the Special Criminal Court on 8 December 2017 for directing a terrorist organisation and IRA membership. The convictions concerned an explosives plot linked to Prince Charles’s planned visit.

The court found that McGrane discussed an operation involving explosives and was convicted of directing the IRA between 19 April and 13 May 2015. He was also convicted of IRA membership, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.

The report said recordings captured McGrane discussing explosives, a proposed military operation and an attack planned for the date of the visit. He had denied both charges.

Sentencing judge Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy described the offence as serious. McGrane had two previous convictions, including IRA membership and firearms training.