IRA-membership accused denies having anything worth destroying

A father of 10 accused of IRA membership denied under oath having any items in his house worth destroying when gardaí conducted a search of the house, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Art Sherwin (aged 55), of Ballinagappa Road, Clane, Co Kildare, told prosecuting counsel Mr Remy Farrell BL that he felt intimidated when his house was raided as part of a Garda investigation and denied wanting to leave to destroy evidence.

“There was no chance of any evidence being destroyed as I had nothing of that kind there,” he said.

Mr Sherwin denies membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on March 14, 2005.

The trial at the three-judge court continues tomorrow.