Garda chief already suspected IRA membership

A Garda Chief Superintendent involved in the investigation of three Armagh men accused of membership of the Real IRA had suspected one man of membership for 20 years, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney told the jury that he knew of Mr Aidan Grew for over 20 years, and formed the belief he was an active member of the Real IRA after Mr Grew's arrest in November 2002.

"I would know of the accused for 20 years and I suspected him over the 20-year period of being an active member of the IRA," said Chief Superintendent Rooney. "That suspicion ran through the entire 20-year period and on November 8, 2002 I formed that belief".

The Chief Superintendent was testifying at the trial of three men who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 8th, 2002.

They are Cathal Loughran(27), of Friary Road, Clady, Co Armagh; Dominic Dynes(32), of St Matthew's Estate, Keady, Co Armagh; and Aidan Grew(47), of Benburb St, Blackwatertown, Co Armagh.

Earlier, he told the jury that it was his belief that the three men were active members of the Real IRA on November 8 2002.

He said his belief was "held independently and without reference to" the men's arrest, detention and questioning at Monaghan Garda station between November 8 and 10, 2002.

Chief Superintendent Rooney added that his belief came from a source of confidential information which would not be revealed due to security concerns.

"I had information in my possession, that information was verified for me on 8 November 2002," he told Mr Grew's defence counsel, Ms Deirdre Murphy SC. "I had moved from a position of suspicion of membership over 20 years to a position of belief on that day" he added.

Cross-examined by Mr Niall Durnin, SC defence counsel for Mr Dynes, Mr Rooney denied a police raid on Mr Dynes' home in Armagh same day of his arrest had anything to do with the Garda investigation.

"If Dominic Dynes was in custody – do you not find it strange that a search is carried out of his home in Keady? I put it to you that the raid was carried out on the Garda's behest," said Mr Durnin. "I cannot answer for another jurisdiction" replied Chief Superintendent Rooney.

All three men were arrested on November 8, as they drove towards the border from Monaghan town. Mr Loughran was driving a blue Isuzu Trooper and Mr Dynes was a short distance behind in a red Peugot 306 hatchback. Mr Grew was arrested in a Toyota Avensis.

Containers of petrol and black bin liners were found in the Isuzu Trooper which had false number plates and had been stolen earlier in the year. Two mobile phones, a set of keys, gloves, balaclavas and more bin liners were found in the red Peugot.

The trial continues tomorrow