Wexford man guilty of IRA membership

A 62-year-old Wexford man was today found guilty of membership of the IRA by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.

Convicting Thomas (Tom) Redmond with addresses at The Grove, Clonard, Co Wexford and The Gate Post, Forth Commons, Co Wexford, the court accepted garda evidence that Mr Redmond "had associations" with firearms.

This corroborated the opinion of Chief Superintendent Michael Murphy, Wexford, that Thomas Redmond was a member of an unlawful organisation.

Mr Redmond had pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army on October 1 1999.

Mr Diarmuid O'Donovan presiding said the court had no difficulty accepting that a metal object, thrown by the accused from his window within minutes of a garda search, was a component part of a homemade grenade.

The court also found that an improvised firing pin discovered in the boot of the accused's car, was further evidence of his association with firearms.

Collectively, these finds, when compared with finds at arms dumps located at Castlebridge and at Shelmalier Commons, both in Co Wexford, on October 4 and 5, 1999 "converts a suspicion into a belief beyond reasonable doubt", Mr Justice O'Donovan said.

The find at Killellan also included two semi-automatic pistols with magazines and ammunition, a Smith & Wesson revolver and 1.7 kilos of semtex.

The court said Chief Superintendent Murphy presented "as a truthful person" and the court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he "firmly believes that Thomas Redmond is and was, at all material times, a member of the IRA."

Mr Redmond was remanded in custody for sentencing on May 9.