Gardaí detail arrests in IRA membership trial

The Special Criminal Court has heard details of the arrests of four men accused of IRA membership today.

The four Derry city men are Gary Donnelly (aged 38), Kildrum Gardens, Michael Gallagher (aged 28), Sackville Court, Martin Francis O’Neill (aged 40), Colmcille Court and Patrick John McDaid (aged 38), Marlborough St.

They have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oghlaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on March 16.

Det Sgt Kieran Brolly told Michael Bowman BL, prosecuting, that he was in Letterkenny garda station attending a conference about an operation into suspected dissident activities in Donegal when a phonecall was received from Sgt Niall Coady who said he was seeking assistance.

Previously, the court heard that Sgt Coady chased a car occupied by the four accused men and stopped it at Bridgend, approximately 500 metres from the border with Northern Ireland.

Det Sgt Brolly told the court that he and Det Garda Jason Lyons drove to Bridgend and saw the four accused men on the footpath.

Det Sgt Brolly said that he approached one of the accused, Mr O’Neill, and informed him he was arresting him under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. He said that he informed Mr O’Neill that he believed he was a member of the IRA.

Det Sgt Brolly said that during the conference he had seen stills and images of what appeared to be a meeting demonstrating a show of strength.

Det Gda Jason Lyons told the court that he was also at the conference in Letterkenny garda station.

He said that he was shown video footage of what appeared to be a meeting of an unlawful organisation and also some photo stills.

He said he saw one of the accused Mr O’Neill in the background of one of those photos.

Det Gda Lyons said that he arrested Mr Gallagher.

Det Gda John Noel Jones told the court that he also drove from the conference to the Bridgend area and that he arrested Mr Donnelly.

Sgt Coady said that he arrested Mr McDaid.

The trial continues.