Gardaí had IRA suspect under surveillance before arrest, trial hears

Senior Garda detectives have told the Special Criminal Court that a man on trial for membership of the IRA had been under surveillance for several hours before his arrest.

In his evidence to the court, Detective Sergeant Cormac Jevens described how he observed Dublin man Criostair Mac Carthaigh travelling in convoy with a second car on a number of occasions around the city in the hours leading up to his arrest.

The 33-year-old, of An Gleann, Baile Phamar (Palmerstown), was put under surveillance after gardaí received information leading them to believe Mr Mac Carthaigh was in possession of firearms and other items beneficial to conducting IRA activity.

The accused has denied being a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself on the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on March 28, 2009.

It's the State's case that he was travelling with a gang of alleged IRA members to a fundraiser on the day in question.

The three-judge, non-jury court has already heard that Mr Mac Carthaigh was arrested near the entrance to the Spa Hotel on the N4 at Lucan. He was a passenger in one of the cars that was travelling in convoy with a second car.

The accused was brought to Shankill Garda station for questioning and subsequently charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. The court heard that the three other men who were with the accused that evening have not been charged.

Gardaí discovered boiler suits, cable ties and a balaclava in the two cars, but no firearms were found.

During a follow-up search of the accused's home, five “end-caps”, items regularly used for making pipe bombs, were discovered.

The trial resumes on Tuesday morning.