Presence of military manuals 'normal', says defence council

The presence of military instruction manuals found in the bedroom of a man accused of IRA membership should be viewed as “very very normal” and nothing more than a young man’s passing interest, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Mark Doran (aged 27), of Poachers Lock, Leighlinbridge, Carlow denies membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 26, 2006.