Special Criminal court may halt CIRA trial

The Special Criminal Court will rule tomorrow on an application to halt the trial of seven men accused of membership of an illegal organisation, the Continuity IRA, over what the defence claims is prejudicial evidence.

Lawyers acting for three of the men claimed the trial has been "tainted" following the evidence of Detective Sergeant PJ Walsh, Henry Street, Limerick, who told the court that the defendants Des Long and Patrick O'Shea were known to him as IRA members.