Man found not guilty of IRA membership

A Dublin man walked free from the Special Criminal Court today after being found not guilty of IRA membership.

Philip Bollard (aged 22), of The Park, Grange Manor, Lucan, Co Dublin had denied membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on November 15, 2006.

Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding at the three-judge court said they could not convict Mr Bollard solely on the evidence of his failure to answer questions during interrogation.

During the trial, Det Chief Supt Philip Kelly gave evidence of his belief that Mr Bollard was a member of the illegal organisation.

However, Mr Justice Butler said he could not attach weight to his evidence because of the different answers he gave during this evidence.

He said: "We are satisfied that there probably is a reasonable explanation to those differences, but they are sufficient to create doubt as to the weight to be attached to the opinion evidence."