Special Criminal Court reserves judgement of seven

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the trial of seven men suspected of membership of the dissident republican organisation, the Continuity IRA.

The 48-day trial was one of the longest trials in the history of the Special Criminal Court and was also the biggest trial of dissident republicans to come before the court.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, today said that as the case was a lengthy one involving multiple accused, the court would give some consideration to the various issues.

Earlier, a defence counsel described the defendants as "a group of aul fellows who between them, would keep any out patients hospital department busy".

Ms Grainne McMorrow SC, defending Christopher Dunne, said it was beyond credibility that this group are the major players in the IRA in Limerick, as the prosecution contends.

She said the court was asked to believe that this group was part of a military unit that poses a threat to the security of the State.

The court has heard that the seven were arrested at a house in Shanabooly Road in Limerick on December 17, 2001 where a suspected meeting of the Continuity IRA was taking place.

Ms McMorrow said what was actually taking place that night "was a formal meeting of republican Sinn Fein" of which the accused are members.

Summing up on behalf of Joseph Lynch, Mr Brendan Nix SC suggested that Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly was fed "incorrect information" that the accused were members of the IRA.

Referring to another senior officer, Chief Superintendent Peter Maguire, Mr Nix asked could it be the case that the superintendent, "with all his fancy questions and knowledge of the Offences Against the State Act" was not aware of the requirement to obtain a judge’s warrant to re-arrest the accused under Section 30?

Could it be, he continued, that Chief Superintendent Maguire decided to go the "extra judicial route" and deal with it later?

The seven men denied the 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 59), 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 62), of Beechgrove Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick and Christopher Dunne (aged 28), of Donnellan Buildings, Rosbrien, Limerick.