Eight men appear in court charged with membership of IRA
The men were all arrested on Friday afternoon after a search of a commercial premises in Clondalkin as part of an ongoing Garda investigation in to the activities of dissident republicans.
Kevin Braney, aged 38; Des Christie, aged 49; Eamon McNamee, aged 32; John Brock, aged 40; Darren Murphy, aged 42; Declan Phelan, aged 31; William Jackson, aged 53; and Hubert Duffy, aged 45, were all charged with membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, on Mar 29.
The non-jury court heard that Mr Murphy, of Rory O’Connor House in Dublin 1, and Mr Brock, of Glenview Park, Tallaght, were arrested by detectives at Rossmore Ave, Ballyfermot, shortly after 12pm, while Mr Duffy, of George’s Place in Dublin 1, and Mr McNamee, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, were arrested on Orchard Rd in Clondalkin around the same time.
Declan Phelan, of Lanndale Lawns, Tallaght, was also arrested shortly after 12pm at Main St in Lucan, while William Jackson, of Dooncourt, Poppintree, was arrested at Newlands Rd, Ronanstown.
Det Sgt Padraig Boyce told state solicitor Liam Mulholland he arrested Mr Braney, of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, at Londonbridge Rd in Dublin 4, at 12:12pm, while Det Gda Gordon Wolfe told Mr Mulholland he arrested Des Christie, of Liam Mellows Road, Finglas, at 12:09pm at Irishtown Garda Station.
The court heard that none of the eight men made any reply when the charges were put to them and that the direction to charge the accused men was received by detectives at 11:49am yesterday morning.
Det Gda Darren Martin agreed with counsel for Darren Murphy, Michael Bowman BL, that he noticed Mr Murphy had injuries to his face and that a doctor attended to the accused man during his detention.
None of the eight men applied for bail yesterday. However lawyers representing all parties indicated that applications for bail and legal aid would be addressed at the next hearing of the case.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said the court would grant a disclosure order for a copy of any recording of the questioning of the accused men during their detention.
Mr Justice Butler remanded the eight men in custody to appear again on April 5.
