A senior member of the "Real IRA" has been jailed for five years by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin after he was convicted of membership of an illegal organisation.
Declan Carroll (25) of Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to being a member of an illegal organisation styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, on November 29th, 2000.
During his trial the court heard that Special Branch detectives found incriminating documents in Carroll's bedroom after his arrest.
The court also heard the opinion of Det Chief Supt Basil Walsh of the Special Detective Unit that he believed Carroll was a member of an illegal organisation.
Carroll denied that he was a member of an illegal organisation and said he was involved in Na Fianna Éireann, a legal republican youth organisation.
But Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, said the court was satisfied "beyond reasonable doubt" that documents found in Carroll's bedroom would be used by "persons engaged in subversive activities".
He said that one document, headed "Forensic", contained information on home-made explosives and improvised mix.
Referring to a second document headed "Memo - use of mobile phone", the judge said the court was satisfied this would be used solely by people who wanted to avoid police detection.
Referring to the third document, headed "Interrogation", the judge said the court's conclusion was that it is "pertinent to and capable of use" by people questioned under the Offences Against the State Act.
Each of these documents "individually and collectively" supported the evidence of Det Chief Supt Basil Walsh that the accused was a member of the IRA, the judge said.
Leave to appeal was refused.