(Pictured: Mr Vincent Banks. Credit: Collins)

The Special Criminal Court trial of a Dublin man accused of IRA membership has been adjourned until tomorrow morning.

Defence lawyers at the trial of Vincent Banks (47), who the prosecution allege purchased the car that was later used in the fatal shooting of Northern Irish prison officer David Black, are objecting to the legality of the accused man’s arrest.

Mr Black, a 52-year-old father of two, was shot dead on November 1st 2012. He was driving to work at Maghaberry prison when the incident occurred.

Mr Banks, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has pleaded ….read more

A Louth man found guilty of IRA membership has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for three years.

Michael Connolly (45) of Grange Drive in Dundalk had been observed driving in convoy with another man, who was then found with two improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Last month, the three-judge, non-jury court convicted Connolly, who had denied the charge, of membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on December 16th, 2014.

The court had heard that Connolly and another man were seen together in the Ardee area that morning. ….read more

The Special Criminal Court trial of a Dublin man accused of IRA membership has heard a day of legal argument.

Defence lawyers at the trial of Vincent Banks (47), who the prosecution allege purchased the car from which Northern Irish prison officer David Black was shot dead, are objecting to the legality of the accused man’s arrest.

Mr Black, a 52-year-old father of two, was killed on November 1st 2012. He was driving to work at Maghaberry prison when the incident occurred.

Mr Banks, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7 has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Vincent Banks. Credit: Collins)

The Special Criminal Court trial of a man accused of IRA membership has heard that he was arrested as part of investigations into the killing of Northern Irish prison officer David Black.

Mr Black, a 52-year-old father of two, was shot dead on November 1st 2012. He was driving to work at Maghaberry prison when the incident occurred.

Vincent Banks (47), of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7 has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on December 18th 2012.

Opening the prosecution ….read more

Three Dublin men accused of IRA membership will face trial next year at the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Jonathan Hawthorn (44) of Ballintyre Downs in Ballinteer, James Geraghty (60) of Dolphin House in Dolphin’s Barn, and Donal O’Ceallaigh (32) with an address on Beach Road, Sandymount are all charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on September 14th, 2016.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge Flann Brennan, fixed a trial date of July 2nd, 2018.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

The ….read more

A Limerick man has been found guilty today at the non-jury Special Criminal Court of assaulting another man.

Larry McCarthy (37) was among a number of people who threatened to use “unlawful violence” and assaulted David Foran (33), who earlier that month had been knocked down and then offered compensation by a motorcyclist.

McCarthy, with an address at Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, Old Cork Rd in County Limerick had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Foran at Cornmarket Villas on November 25th, 2014.

He had also denied that he and two other people threatened to use “unlawful violence” at the same place ….read more

Judges at the Special Criminal Court trial of a Limerick man accused of assault will deliver a verdict next Monday.

It is alleged that Larry McCarthy (37) was among a number of people who threatened to use “unlawful violence” and assaulted David Foran (33), who had earlier been knocked down and then offered compensation by a motorcyclist.

Mr McCarthy, with an address at Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, Old Cork Rd in County Limerick has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Foran at Cornmarket Villas on November 25th, 2014.

He has also denied that he and two other people threatened to use “unlawful violence” ….read more

The prosecution at the Special Criminal Court trial of a Limerick man accused of assault has closed its case today.

It is alleged that Larry McCarthy (37) was among a number of people who threatened to use “unlawful violence” and assaulted David Foran (33), who had earlier been knocked down and then offered compensation by a motorcyclist.

Mr McCarthy, with an address at Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, Old Cork Rd in County Limerick has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Foran at Cornmarket Villas on November 25th, 2014.

He has also denied that he and two other people threatened to use “unlawful violence” ….read more

A Tipperary man who pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possession of two pipe-bombs, a pistol and ammunition has received a six year sentence.

Dylan Cahill (24), of Lower Irishtown, Clonmel, Co Tipperary pleaded guilty last April to the possession of a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of .380 calibre ammunition at Sradrine, Glefarne, Co Leitrim on May 13th, 2015.

He also pleaded guilty to the possession of two improvised explosive devices, or pipe-bombs, at the same place on the same date.

The court had previously heard that on the day of the offences gardai who were ….read more