Accused did not know what INLA men were doing in hotel room, court hears

A Tyrone man accused of INLA membership told gardaí that he did not know what two men who have pleaded guilty to INLA membership were doing in his hotel room the night before the alleged offence, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Edward McGarrigle (aged 43), Melmont Gardens, Strabane, Co Tyrone, as well as Neil Myles (aged 54), of no fixed abode, and John McCrossan (aged 47), Ballycoleman Estate, Strabane, Co Tyrone have pleaded not guilty to membership the INLA on February 22 last year.

It is the prosecution’s case that the four men were involved in a plot to commit a crime at the house of a man and his family in Cork city.

Mr McGarrigle told gardaí: “I do not know what I’ve stumbled upon by coming to Cork.”

Mr McGarrigle stayed in the Lancaster Lodge B&B in Cork city the night before the alleged offence.

Gardai said to him that one of his co-accused, Mr Myles, came to the B&B with Gareth Dunne (aged 23), of Clonard Rd, Crumlin and Gerard Kelleher (aged 28), Cathedral View Walk, Kevin St, Dublin 8, both of whom have admitted membership of the INLA on February 22 last year.

Mr McGarrigle said that he was in the hotel room’s toilet and “wasn’t aware” Mr Myles was in anybody’s company.

The trial continues.