Greens want SF to explain Cork gunman

THE Green Party has called on Sinn Féin to clarify the status of constituency activist Sean Kind, who got a six-year sentence yesterday in the Special Criminal Court for possessing firearms.

Green Party Deputy Dan Boyle said if Sinn Féin failed to properly disassociate itself from such criminality it would do itself and its members a disservice.

Sean Kind, described as a dedicated republican and anti-drugs campaigner, was jailed for six years yesterday for possession of firearms for an unlawful purpose.

Kind, 42, of St Joseph's Terrace, Rockenham, Passage West, Co Cork and three co-accused, were convicted of having three pistols and 18 rounds of ammunition without a firearms certificate, and of having the pistols and ammunition for an unlawful purpose at Cahir Hill, Ballinwillin, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on January 29 last year.

During questioning, one of the accused told gardaí they were on their way to carry out a punishment beating.

The three co-accused are Walter Nagle, 24, of Avoncore Estate, Midleton, Co Cork; Michael Nugent, 27, of Meadow Park Lawn, Ballyvolane, Cork; and Keiran Kiely, 26, of Mill Road, Youghal, Co Cork.

Mr Nagle was sentenced to five years and Mr Nugent and Mr Kiely to four years each. All four were also sentenced to three years for possession of firearms without a certificate, the sentences to run concurrently.

The court heard Sean Kind was previously sentenced in 1980 to seven years for possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. In that instance he was arrested at an IRA training camp in Kerry, at which shots were fired.

In evidence, Chief Superintendent Tim Callaghan, said Kind was involved in the Coalition of Communities Against Drugs (COCAD) and was very active in Sinn Féin in the Carrigaline area of Cork.

Cross-examined by Tom Creed, SC, for Sean Kind, the superintendent was asked whether it was laudable to be involved in anti-drugs campaigning. "Yes" replied Chief Superintendent Callaghan, "within certain parameters."

The court heard Walter Nagle had previous convictions for assault and road traffic offences. Michael Nugent and Keiran Keily have no previous convictions.

Sentencing the four, Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, said that these were "extremely serious offences".

The court heard that gardaí, on routine traffic patrol, found three loaded pistols, 18 rounds of ammunition, balaclavas, a baseball bat and iron bar when they stopped a car containing the four men outside Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

All four were wearing boiler suits when they were arrested after they were observed driving erratically.

The court also heard that during questioning at Mallow garda station about what the men intended to do, Keiran Kiely replied: "Sort out some fella."

It was further alleged that he replied "yeah" when asked if he could tell gardaí if it was a punishment beating.

The prosecution held the accused were part of a joint enterprise and were jointly in control of the firearms.