Man 'rehearsed' admission of INLA membership, court hears

A Waterford man “rehearsed” his admission of INLA membership with gardaí, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

It was the tenth day of the trial of John O’Donoghue (aged 27) of Clonard Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford and James Butler (aged 55) of Ardmore 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.

James Butler told his counsel, John Phelan SC, that, while in custody in Tramore Garda Station on June 19, 2007, he was taken to the backyard for a cigarette by Detective Garda Keith Gough and Detective Sergeant Anthony Hearty.

Butler said that, while in the backyard, Det Sgt Hearty told him he could go home if he answered the questions “properly”. He added that his admission to INLA membership was “rehearsed”.

Previously, the court heard that Butler admitted during a garda interview that he joined the INLA to “protect himself” from anti-social behaviour.

Under cross-examination by prosecuting counsel Mary Ellen Ring SC, Butler said the armalite symbol found on jackets discovered during a search of his house was “just an emblem”.

He said that it caused him “no problem at all” that the jackets had armalite emblems on them.

The trial before Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding at the three-judge court is expected to finish next Tuesday.