Gardaí found Garda uniforms in INLA membership defendant's car

Detectives found garda uniforms, bulletproof vests and an extendable baton in a car they stopped in Dundalk just before Christmas 2007, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard today.

They also found two black bomber jackets with the logo "Republican Socialist Movement Dundalk" and an AK47 rifle and red star on the back.

A Dundalk man, Anthony Lee (aged 33), Carnbeg, Doylesfort Road has pleaded not guilty to membership of the INLA on December 20, 2007.

Opening the prosecution case, Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC said that gardaí investigating the activities of the INLA were on duty in Dundalk and the accused man was seen arriving at a housing estate in a black VW Passat car. He was later seen at the boot of the car and then getting in the passenger seat.

When detectives attempted to stop the car by putting on their blue flashing lights and siren, the Passat failed to stop and collided with another garda car which had tried to block the road.

The accused and the car’s driver were arrested and when gardaí searched the car boot they found garda uniforms, two bulletproof vests and the black bomber jackets. An extendable baton and gloves were found in the front of the car.

When Lee’s home was searched, an Irish Army issue bulletproof vest was found under the bed.

Ms Ring told the court that the prosecution case would consist of the opinion evidence of Chief Superintendent Patrick Magee that Lee was an INLA member and the evidence would be backed up by Lee’s presence in the car where the items were found.

The trial is continuing.