Real IRA convictions overturned on appeal

THE Court of Criminal Appeal (CCA) has quashed the convictions of five Munster men jailed three years after they were found guilty of membership of the Real IRA.

The CCA found the Special Criminal court did not have the jurisdiction to try them because they were not charged “forthwith” after they were arrested.

In 2005 Ciaran O’Dwyer, 53, of Castletroy View, Limerick; John Murphy, 28, of Kilbarry, Old Mallow Road, Cork; Ultan Larkin, 37, of Farranshone, Limerick: Gerard Varian, 49, of Fairhill, Cork; and Aidan O’Driscoll, 29, of Ballyvolane, Cork, were all convicted of membership of an illegal organisation, the Real IRA, on December 15, 2003.