A CO Louth farmer denied on oath at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday that he was a member of the "Real IRA".
Mr Liam Campbell (39) also told the three judges that he did not support the aims of the "Real IRA" and added: "I don't agree with violence." He gave evidence after the court rejected submissions by his counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, that he had no case to answer.
The court also ruled that the "Real IRA" was covered by the Unlawful Organisations Suppression Order of 1939, which outlawed the IRA.
Mr Justice Robert Barr, presiding, said the "so-called 'Real IRA' are on all fours with the original IRA as it existed in 1939 and have a similar philosophy, objectives and structure and members of the group are within the ambit of the suppression order of 1939".
The court also ruled that three of the nine interviews carried out by teams of detectives on Mr Campbell over 15 hours could not be admitted in evidence because it was not clear in those interviews if the original legal caution given to Mr Campbell that he was not obliged to say anything was withdrawn before detectives told him of the implications of his refusal to answer questions under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act of 1998.
The court also ruled that items found during a Garda search of Mr Campbell's home could reasonably be regarded as amounting to corroboration of the evidence of Chief Supt Michael Finnegan that he believed Mr Campbell was a member of an illegal organisation.
It was the sixth day of the trial of Mr Campbell, a married father of two, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, who has pleaded not guilty to being a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise ╙glaigh na h╔ireann, otherwise the IRA, on October 3rd last year.
Prosecuting counsel Mr George Birmingham SC has told the court that the case against Mr Campbell consisted of the opinion of a Garda chief superintendent, items which were found during a search of Mr Campbell's home and nine interviews carried out by garda∅ at Kells Garda station after his arrest.
He said Mr Campbell had declined to answer material questions relating to his membership of an illegal organisation and the court was entitled under the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act of 1998 to draw inferences from that.
In evidence to the court yesterday, Mr Campbell said he farmed five acres and rented another 12 near the Border. He used the land to graze cattle. Mr Campbell told his counsel, Mr O' Higgins, that he was not a member of the "Real IRA" or the IRA.
He said he had refused to reply to questions about his membership of an illegal organisation during interviews because he was told he had the right to remain silent.
Cross-examined by prosecuting counsel, Mr Tom O'Connell SC, Mr Campbell said he did not support the aims of the "Real IRA". When asked if he condemned the actions carried out by the "Real IRA", Mr Campbell replied: "I don't agree with violence."
When shown a painted mirror showing a picture of Cuchulainn and crossed flags with photos which was signed by a number of people, Mr Campbell said that the people were in jail in Long Kesh and one of the photos was of his brother who was killed 26 years ago.
He said that another poster in his garage showing a man with a black beret holding a gun had "something to do with the Tricolour and the GPO in 1916." He said CB radios and walkie talkies found in his house were used by him for "moving alcohol into town". He also said that 40 pairs of cotton gloves, disposable body suits and face masks were bought by him in Jonesboro market and he used them for spraying weedkiller and for farm work.
Mr Campbell said £2,000 sterling in cash found in his house was a wedding present which had been given to one of his brothers and he was "minding" the money while his brother was on honeymoon.
The trial adjourned until October 22nd.