Garda: INLA accused were 'involved in making explosive'

Two Waterford men accused of INLA membership were "involved in making explosive devices under the instructions of others", the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Chief Superintendent Patrick Murphy, Waterford Garda Station, was speaking at the trial of James Butler (aged 55), Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford and John O’Donoghue (aged 27), Clonard Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford, who both deny membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish National Liberation Army, otherwise the INLA on June 18 last year.

Chief Supt Murphy told the court that he formed the belief that the accused were members of an INLA cell and were "actively pursuing the objectives of that cell".

He said that the belief was based on intelligence available to him locally and was also supplied by confidential sources.

Under cross-examination by Brendan Nix, counsel for O’Donoghue, Chief Supt Murphy said that he expected guns and explosives to be found during searches of the defendants’ addresses on June 18 last year.

He claimed privilege over other intelligence received during the investigation.

Mr Nix said to Chief Supt Murphy that the "only intelligence you have that we can evaluate is that explosives and guns would be found, but that they were not found".

Mr Nix said that this shows the intelligence was "faulty".

Chief Supt Murphy disagreed.

The trial before Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding at the three-judge court continues tomorrow.