Court allows extra witnesses give evidence

The prosecution case against seven men accused of membership of the Continuity IRA is expected to close tomorrow after the court allowed two further State witnesses to give additional evidence.

The case had finished on Friday but today the court allowed the service of additional evidence by the prosecution relating to Detective Garda Senan O’ Sullivan and Detective Garda Eileen O’ Shea.

Detective Garda O’ Shea was unavailable due to illness and is expected to give her additional evidence tomorrow.

The defence is then expected to make applications in the trial – the biggest ever of dissident republicans in the State.

The seven accused were arrested when a large party of gardai raided a house in the Shanabooly Road area of Limerick in December 2001 where a suspected meeting of the Continuity IRA was taking place.

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