Court refuses garda interview evidence in IRA membership trial

The Special Criminal Court ruled today that portions of garda interviews with two Northern Ireland men accused of Real IRA membership should not be admitted in evidence because the men had not been given proper access to their solicitors.

The court ruled that Cathal Loughran was denied access to a solicitor on November 9, 2002 at 12.02pm and that his detention was unlawful from that period. However he was given access to a solicitor at 1.33pm on the same date and thereafter was lawfully detained.