Dundalk man pleads not guilty to INLA membership

A Dundalk man was arrested after the car in which he was a passenger tried to drive through a garda roadblock, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

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

Prosecuting counsel Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC told the court that gardaí investigating INLA activities observed a black VW Passat car arrive at a house in Dundalk and two men were seen leaving the car and going into the house.

A short time later the men left the house and one of them, the accused Lee, was seen opening the car boot and then getting into the passenger seat.

When gardaí blocked the road with garda cars and activated blue flashing lights, the Passat car failed to stop and collided with one of the garda cars before coming to a halt.

In the car boot gardaí found garda uniforms, two bulletproof vests and two black bomber jackets with an AK 47 rifle logo and ``Republican Socialist Movement Dundalk’’ on the back.

Ms Ring told the court that they would hear the opinion evidence of Chief Superintendent Patrick Magee that he believed Lee was an INLA member.

The trial continues tomorrow.