Judgement reserved in IRA membership trial

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the trial of three men accused of memebrship of an illegal organisation.

The trial originally started last October but was adjourned pending a Supreme Court decision on an issue in membership cases which was given earlier this year. The trial resumed this week.

Adrian Kirwan (aged 25), a native of Ballymun in Dublin, with an address at Ardilaun Green, Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath and Colum Wiggins (aged 24), of Annagry, Letterkenny, Co Donegal each pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on December 5, 2004.

Sean Connolly (aged 26), of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin denied membership of an illegal organisation on December 14, 2004.

The trial was told last year that members of the Special Detective Unit who pulled over a car at gunpoint found an electronic timing device in the boot. Kirwan and Wiggins who were in the car were arrested and Connolly was arrested later.

Two Chief Superintendents gave evidence that they believed the three men were members of an illegal organisation on the date in question.