A senior dissident republican was jailed yesterday for five years by the Special Criminal Court after being convicted of membership of an illegal organisation.
Declan Carroll (25), of Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself ╙glaigh na h╔ireann on November 29th, 2000.
The court heard that Special Branch detectives discovered documents in Carroll's bedroom after his arrest. Det Chief Supt Basil Walsh said he believed Carroll was a member of an illegal organisation.
Carroll, in evidence, denied he was a member of an illegal organisation and said he was involved in Na Fianna ╔ireann, a legal republican youth organisation.
But yesterday 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." One document, headed "forensic", contained information on home-made explosives and improvised mix.
The judge said the court "takes a very serious view of this case" and of the evidence of Det Supt Peter Maguire that in 1998 this organisation was responsible for 28 crimes including explosives, firearms and armed robberies to raise funds for that organisation.
It had also set up training camps. The court took into account that the accused "came from a decent and hard-working family" and was involved in community and sporting activities in his area.