Gardaí reject claims of threatening accused

Claims of garda threats made by a Dublin man accused of IRA membership were rejected by the Special Criminal Court tomorrow.

Colm Maguire (aged 32) of O’Moore Road, Ballyfermot, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on August 23 last year.

Maguire’s solicitor, Michael Finucane, complained at Terenure Garda Station of inappropriate Garda questioning off-camera followed by threats to revoke bail when Maguire was in custody on August 30 2005.

Maguire had also claimed in evidence that Gardaí started inappropriate conversations with him outside the interview room, and when they took him for a cigarette.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge court said the treatment of Maguire while in custody did not make his statements inadmissible in evidence.

Detective Garda John Barrett told prosecuting counsel Mr Paul Greene BL that Maguire denied being a member of the IRA during a series of interviews.

Maguire told Gardaí he didn’t remember being in Jury’s Hotel in Christchurch on August 23 when he was observed with a rucksack meeting two men by Gardaí conducting a surveillance operation.

One of the men, who was from Limerick, was later found with ammunition.

Detective Barrett told the court that when he asked Maguire whether Limerick was important to the IRA for the procurement of arms, Maguire answered: “I’ve no idea, you’d have to ask P. O’Neill or something like that.”