Court rejects appeal against IRA membership conviction

The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed an appeal brought by two Dublin men against their conviction for IRA membership.

Last October at the Special Criminal Court Adrian Kirwan (aged 27), from Ballymun, Dublin, with an address at Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was convicted of IRA membership in December 2004 and jailed for four years.

Seán Connolly (aged 27), Bluebell, Dublin, was convicted of the same charge and jailed for six years.

Today at the three Judge CCA Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan, presiding, sitting with Mr Justice Eamon De Valera, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the men's appeal against their conviction.

Moving the appeal Counsel for the two men Mr Paul Burns SC and Mr Derek Kenneally SC had argued that the appeal was being brought on the grounds including that the Special Criminal Court had erred by attaching too much weight on evidence given during their trial by a senior gardaí.

Counsel said that while giving evidence the garda had not revealed the source of certain information because it may endanger the sources which he was relying on.

However, the garda admitted that he had not dealt directly with the sources.

Counsel for the DPP Mr Tom O'Connell SC had opposed the appeal, and argued that the conviction should stand.

In dismissing the appeal Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan said that after the court could find "no fault" with the conviction, and was quite satisfied with the way that the Special Criminal Court had considered the evidence.