Garda admits errors in Continuity IRA trial

A detective garda who took part in a raid on a house in Limerick where a suspected Continuity IRA was taking place, made a number of errors in his witness statement, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Det Garda Derek Smart, Henry Street, said other members of the garda search party handed him a number of itmes seized during the raid. He agreed with Ms Anne Rowland BL, acting for one of the accused, that in his statement detailing the items, he inadvertently made a number of errors.

Detective Garda Smart said he did not check his hand-written statement before it was sent for typing. It was only when he saw the typed version he noted several inaccuracies.

Detective Garda Smart agreed with counsel that he did not date his statement but denied this was a "deliberate intention" so that it could be "added to" or later altered if necessary.

"No My Lords, I don’t accept that," he said.

Detective Garda smart was giving evidence on the eighteenth day of the trial of seven men who were arrested when a large party of gardai raided a house in the Shanabooley Road area of Limerick in December 2001.

Chief Superintendent Gerard Kelly gave evidence earlier in the trial that in his opinion, each of the seven accused was a member of an unlawful organisation on December 17 2001. The State's case is that the unlawful organisation in question is the Continuity IRA.

Each of the seven accused have pleaded not guilty to a charge that on December 17, 2001, within the State, they were members of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann.

They are Des Long (aged 62), Vice President of Republican Sinn Fein, of Shannon Banks, Limerick, Patrick Kenneally (aged 58), of Crusheen, Co Clare, Patrick O' Shea (aged 54) of Sir Harry's Mall, Limerick, Gerard ``Ger'' Brommell (aged 43), of Rostura Crescent, Woodview Park, Limerick, Robert Mc Namara (aged 59), of St Michael's Avenue, Tipperary, Joseph ''Tiny'' Lynch (aged 61), of Beechgrove Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick and Christopher Dunne (aged 28), of Donnellan Buildings, Rosbrien, Limerick.

The trial continues on Tuesday.