Kildare man denies dissident membership in trial

A Co Kildare man arrested during a garda investigation into the manufacture and movement of explosive devices by dissident republicans pleaded not guilty to membershi[p of an illegal organisation at the Special Criminal Court today.

John O'Reilly (aged 33), of Glendale, Leixlip denied membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on June 25, 2009.

Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O' Sullivan, Special Detective Unit, told the court that he was in charge of an investigation into the manufacture and movements of explosive devices by members of the IRA.

He said he issued a search warrant for the home of the accused. On June 25, 2009 he was made aware that John O'Reilly had been arrested and was present in Lucan Garda Station.

He briefed now-retired Detective Chief Suiperintendent Philip Kelly on the investigation and advised him that O'Reilly's period of detention should be extended by 24 hours and the Detective Superintendent extended the detention.

Prosecution counsel Mr Garnett Orange BL said that O'Reilly was interviewed a number of times after his arrest at Lucan Garda Station and nothing of significance emerged from the interviews on June 25, but certain alleged admissions were made on June 26 on which the prosecution would rely.

Mr Orange said that the prosecution case relied on these alleged admissions and the evidence of Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan that he believed O'Reilly was a member of the IRA on June 25.

The court was shown a video of an interview given by O'Reilly to gardaí in which he said: "I was a member of the IRA. I am no longer a member of the IRA. I can't discuss anything else about the organisation because I fear for my safety."

The trial is continuing.