Man refused to answer garda questions, court hears

A Co Louth man refused to answer questions about possible dissident republican operations detailed in a notebook found in his house, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The court was told that Sean Mulligan answered "No comment" when questioned by Special Branch detectives about entries in the notebook.

Mulligan was one of four men arrested after Special Branch detectives swooped on a room at the Neptune Beach hotel in Bettystown, Co Meath in July last year.

The court has been told that gardai found a stun gun in the room which had been booked under a false name.

Sean Mulligan (aged 52), of Carnalughogue, Louth village has pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 29 last year.

Detective Sergeant Pat O' Malley of the Special Detective Unit said that he and Detective Sergeant William Hanrahan interviewed Mulligan at Santry Garda Station after his arrest in Bettystown.

When asked by Detective Sergeant Hanrahan if the handwriting in a notebook found in his house was his handwriting, Mulligan replied "No comment".

Mulligan was asked about references in the notebook to a "clean van" and if this was a reference to an operation to be carried out by Oglaigh na hEireann, Mulligan again replied "No comment".

Mulligan replied "No comment" when asked if details in the notebook also referred to an investigation carried out by him into an operation carried out by Oglaigh na hEireann, the witness added.

Mulligan also replied "No comment" when asked if he was a member of Oglaigh na hEireann.

Detective Sergeant O' Malley said that Mulligan was told that under section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act of 1998 a court could draw inferences from his refusal to answer material questions about the offence for which he was arrested.

The trial continues.