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

A Monaghan man who was using his land and land belonging to his mother-in-law for dissident republican activity has been jailed for three years today by the Special Criminal Court.

Jim Smyth (44), with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan was convicted last month of membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25th, 2015.

During his trial, the three-judge, non-jury court heard evidence from Chief Superintendent Christopher Mangan, who said that it was his belief that Smyth was an IRA member on the date in question.

The court ….read more

A Limerick man who was allegedly assaulted after agreeing to settle a traffic accident out of court told gardai that a man named Larry McCarthy stabbed him in the leg, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

The evidence was heard as part of a statement David Foran (33) gave to gardai two days after the alleged assault.

The statement was admitted into evidence today after the prosecution successfully argued there were “inconsistencies” between Mr Foran’s direct evidence at the trial and the statements he had earlier given to gardai.

It is the prosecution’s case that Larry McCarthy (37) was among a ….read more

The Special Criminal Court trial of a Limerick man accused of assault has been listening to a day of legal argument.

Larry McCarthy (37), with an address at Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, Old Cork Rd in County Limerick has pleaded not guilty to assaulting David Foran (33) at Cornmarket Villas on November 25th, 2014.

He has also denied that he and two other people threatened to use “unlawful violence” at the same place on the same date.

It is the prosecution’s case that Mr McCarthy was among a number of people who threatened to use “unlawful violence” and assaulted Mr Foran, who earlier ….read more

A man allegedly attacked after agreeing to accept €5000 in compensation for a collision with a motorcyclist has told the Special Criminal Court that he does not know who stabbed him.

The prosecution allege that 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.

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 ….read more

A Limerick man was beaten up and stabbed in the leg after agreeing to accept €5,000 in compensation for a collision with a motorcyclist, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

The prosecution case is that Larry McCarthy (37) was among a number of people who threatened to use “unlawful violence” and assaulted David Foran, who earlier that month had 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 ….read more

The Special Criminal Court has ruled that a Monaghan man who was allegedly using his land for IRA activities was arrested legally.

Jim Smyth (44), with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25th, 2015.

It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Smyth was using his own land and land belonging to his mother-in-law for IRA activities.

Mr Smyth’s legal team had argued that his arrest was illegal because he had been arrested for the “same ….read more

A Monaghan man accused of IRA membership was using his mother-in-law’s land for dissident activity, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Jim Smyth (44), with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25th, 2015.

Today’s evidence was heard as part of a voir dire – or “trial within a trial” – and will help the court’s three judges to decide on a legal issue.

Paul Greene SC, for Mr Smyth, had indicated that the defence ….read more

A Monaghan man was seen walking up a “dark, muddy laneway” near two derelict houses on the night he was arrested for IRA membership, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Jim Smyth (44), with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25th, 2015.

Opening the prosecution case today, Shane Costello SC said the court will hear evidence that on the day of the alleged offence, a few hours before Mr Smyth was arrested, there ….read more

The Special Criminal Court trial of a Louth man accused of IRA membership has heard that two “very well made” and “viable” improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in a car that gardai had stopped on the N52 in County Meath.

It is the prosecution’s case that Michael Connolly (44) was observed by gardai driving in convoy along the road with a man who was later found with the two IEDs.

Mr Connolly, of Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the ….read more