THE indivisible links between Sinn Féin and the IRA were further exposed yesterday as the Special Criminal Court sentenced five IRA men found with CS gas canisters, a stun gun, pick-axe handles, balaclavas and SF posters.

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea yesterday accused Sinn Féin Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh of “blatant hypocrisy” after he tabled two parliamentary questions on military intelligence.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has described as unsound two convictions for IRA membership passed at the Special Criminal Court this week.

A leading Sinn Féin member and a man who engaged in patrols against drug dealers were today sentenced to four years imprisonment for IRA membership.

A man who had documents in his bedroom on how to make explosives was today found not guilty of IRA membership.

GAY MITCHELL has become the latest politician to back Michael McDowell’s allegations linking Sinn Féin with criminality after making the extraordinary claim that Republican subversives may have tampered with his post.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell today challenged republicans to come clean over their links with criminal activities.

Two Dublin Sinn Féin members were convicted at the Special Criminal Court today on charges of IRA membership.

The Special Criminal Court for the first time in its history today examined secret garda files relating to an IRA membership trial.

A Dublin man accused of IRA membership gave the minutes of a Sinn Féin cumann meeting to a Special Branch detective who was searching him, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgement on defence applications concerning the belief of the head of the Garda Special Branch that two Dublin men were IRA members.

The head of the Garda Special Branch told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today that he had confidential information from "garda and non garda sources" that two Dublin men were members of the IRA.

The head of the Garda Special Branch told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today that he believed two Dublin men were members of the IRA.

The names of three former Justice Ministers were on an alleged IRA document found by gardaí in the home of a Dublin man accused of IRA membership, the Special Criminal Court was told today.

Gardaí found documents relating to the movements of a number of TD's in a briefcase taken from the home of a Dublin man accused of IRA membership, the Special Criminal Court heard today.