Eight men have been charged with membership of an illegal organisation after garda∅ mounted an operation against dissident republicans.
In the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, the eight, who were arrested in a raid on a house in Shanabooley Road, Ballinanty, Limerick, last Monday night, were remanded in custody to appear in court again today, when applications for bail and legal aid will be heard.
They are: Mr Joseph Lynch (60), of Beechgrove Avenue, Ballincurra Weston, Limerick; Mr Patrick O'Shea (53), of Sir Harry's Mall, Limerick; Mr Desmond Long (61), of Shannon Banks, Limerick; Mr Robert McNamara (57), of St Michael's Avenue, Tipperary; Mr Christopher Dunne (27), of Donnellan Buildings, Rosbrien, Limerick; Mr Gerard Brommel (42), of Rostura Crescent, Woodview Park, Limerick; Mr Patrick Kennelly (57), of Crusheen, Co Clare; and Mr Matt Conway (66), of Nicholas Street, Kilkullen, Co Kildare.
They were charged that on Monday, December 17th, 2001 within the State, they were members of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army contrary to Section 21 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
None of the men gave a reply when charged before the court, except to answer to their names. The court heard evidence from the arresting officers, all attached to Henry Street Garda station in Limerick.
The first arresting officer, Det Sgt Senan O'Sullivan, told the court that he was a member of a group of garda∅ investigating the activities of certain people in and around December 17th, 2001. Surveillance was placed on a number of people. As a result of this, a search warrant was issued to search premises on Shanabooley Road, Ballinanty, Limerick.
When garda∅ gained entry to the premises, they met a group of people, and shortly afterwards, a number of arrests were made. Det Sgt O'Sullivan said that he arrested Mr Joseph Lynch.
The court heard that each of the men's detentions was extended for a further 24-hour period under the directions of Chief Supt Gerard Kelly and that Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked on a number of occasions during questioning.
That section allows the court to draw inferences from the silence of suspects being questioned about membership of an illegal organisation.
Their detention was discontinued around 9 p.m. on Wednesday night, December19th, but they were then rearrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act, 1997 on suspicion of having committed the membership offence.
The court was told that when Mr Lynch was rearrested for membership on Wednesday night, he replied to a caution: "I am not a member."
As each of the men was charged in turn, counsel representing them told the three-judge court that they were reserving their position on the evidence given and would make applications for legal aid and bail.
Mr Justice O'Donovan, presiding, remanded the men in custody to appear before the Special Criminal Court at 2 p.m. today.