Judgement reserved in IRA membership trial

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the case of a 33-year-old Dublin man who denies being a member of the IRA.

Críostóir Mac Carthaigh, of An Gleann, Baile Phamar (Palmerstown), was arrested over a year ago after senior Garda detectives received confidential information from an informant, and mounted a surveillance operation.

They intercepted the accused on the evening of March 28, 2009, along with three other men who were travelling in a two-car convoy on the N4.

Gardaí believed Mr Mac Carthaigh was en route to an IRA fundraiser with a gang of alleged IRA members, and may have had firearms in his possession.

Gardaí discovered four boiler suits, cable ties, knives, balaclavas and gloves in the cars, but no weapons were found.

The accused was arrested and subsequently charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself on the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA.

He has pleaded not guilty.

The three other men who were travelling with the accused at the time were neither convicted nor charged with IRA membership.

During follow up searches of Mr Mac Carthaigh's home, gardaí found five end-caps, which the court heard are items regularly used in the making of pipe-bombs.

Receipts for four boiler suits and cable ties were also discovered in his car, while CCTV footage showed the accused at Aldi in Palmerstown on the day in question, purchasing boiler suits.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, reserved judgment in the case until a later date.