Galway men plead guilty to gang membership

Two Galway men have pleaded guilty to membership of a criminal organisation, marking the first conviction under new anti-gang legislation.

The men were originally charged with organising a criminal organisation but entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of membership today. They face a maximum of 15 years in prison under the 2009 Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act.

Michael O’Loughlin (aged 31) of Rahylin Glebe, Ballybane and Eddie O’Loughlin (aged 28) of Rockfield Park, Rahoon have both pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation in the Galway area between February 10 and June 1, 2010.

A trial commenced last week after the men pleaded not guilty to directing a criminal organisation but it collapsed on day seven due to the illness of a juror.

These charges were then withdrawn by the State and both men were arraigned on the new charge of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation. The trial was originally due to last six months and would have involved the viewing of hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.

Judge Martin Nolan remanded both men in custody for a sentence hearing on April 30 which is due to take two hours.

During the trial a jury was told that conversations recorded using audio devices placed inside cars would be used to prove that the two men were guilty of running a criminal gang.

Opening the trial for the prosecution at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Dominic McGinn SC said that the jury would hear recordings of conversations of the two men which would link them to the organisation of criminal activities.

He said that in February 2010 gardaí began recording conversations in the Toyota Avensis used by Edward O’Loughlin and on May 14 2010 they began listening into a car registered to the partner of Michael O’Loughlin.

Mr McGinn said that the gardaí would give evidence of routine traffic stops and other surveillance carried out by them which they say confirms that the voices heard on the recordings are that of the two accused.

It was the State’s case that the conversations link the men to a number of specific offences, including burglaries and the seizure of controlled drugs.

Counsel said gardaí believed that the men were instrumental in making these offenses happen and the pair were arrested on June 1, 2010.