Two jailed in 'Real IRA training camp' case

Two men involved in running a Real IRA training camp, one of them a trained sniper in the Army, were jailed for up to five years today after being convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation.

Former soldier Richard Whyte, aged 31, of Richardstown, Kildangan Co Kildare, was jailed for five years after the Special Criminal Court convicted him of membership of the IRA on July 7 last year.

His co-accused, John Maloney, aged 42, of St Martin's, Geraldine, Athy Co Kildare was jailed for four and a half years.

The court heard that detectives found guns, ammunition, camouflage gear and documents in dense woodland in Kilart Bog, Co Kildare. Similar camouflage clothing and documents were found in a search of Richard Whyte's home.

Both men had pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann on July 7 2001, but did not contest the evidence.

Detective Superintendent Peter Maguire, Special Detective Unit, told the court that Mr Whyte came to the attention of the gardaí during their investigation into a Real IRA training camp in Kilart Bog used for training a large number of volunteers from the 32 counties.

He said Mr Whyte played a central role in the establishment and management of the camp. The superintendent described him as a person of "exemplary character up to this" and who was highly regarded in the Army.

Detective Superintendent Maguire told the court that John Maloney was a strong republican who had been involved in "extremist nationalist organisations for some time".

Mr Maloney had indicated to gardaí that he had been "shaken" by the Omagh bomb but had not left the Real IRA because of it.

The superintendent told the court he believed John Maloney had a strong aversion to violence personally.

Nonetheless, he was involved in the training camp used by a large number of Real IRA volunteers over the past couple of years.

Questioned by the defence about a recent statement from a Real IRA faction in Portlaoise Prison stating their withdrawal from the organisation, Superintendent Maguire said he was aware of the statement. Mr Aidan Walsh SC for Richard Whyte asked Superintendent Maguire if the accused would "take his lead from the same people?"

They would be "influential over him", he replied.

Sentencing the accused, Mr Diarmaid O'Donovan presiding, said it was not credible that the accused were "ignorant of what went on in that camp" which was training people "in the use of firearms and ammunition".

He added that "Mr Whyte's conduct was all the more reprehensible" given that he was a valued member of the Defence Forces. Both men, he noted were from very good backgrounds. Richard Whyte has no previous convictions, the court heard. John Maloney has one previous conviction of a minor nature.

As he was led from the dock, Richard Whyte shouted "subservient imperialists" at the bench.

The court refused leave to appeal.