Chef accused of IRA membership didn't want to wear badge

A County Cork chef accused of IRA membership didn’t want to wear a badge saying: “Jerry McCabe: Catering Officer, Garda Club,” to a catering conference, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Mr Gerard O’Reilly was giving evidence in the trial of Don Bullman (aged 32), of Fernwood Crescent, Leghanamore, Wilton, Co Cork who has denied membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on February 16th, 2005.

Mr O’Reilly told prosecuting counsel, Mr Paul Greene BL, that he travelled to Dublin from Cork with Mr Bullman and a number of other men on February 15th to attend a catering conference in the RDS.

He said Mr Bullman remained in his company until February 16th when they were due to return to Cork.

The accused told him he was going to meet two other men to organise tickets for a Celtic match but that he did not come back.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr Conor Devally SC, Mr O’Reilly said the accused had asked him to join him in meeting the other two men.

He said the reason they put inaccurate details on the registration forms and on their badges was to avoid unwanted follow-up information from the conference.

He also said he didn’t see who wrote ‘Jerry McCabe’ on Mr Bullman’s badge, but added that the accused seemed ‘surprised’ by the badge. He claimed Mr Bullman: “Didn’t want to wear it and put it in his pocket.”

The trial continues Tuesday.