Man with ‘Oglaigh’ T-shirt convicted of IRA membership
A MAN arrested wearing an ‘Oglaigh na hEireann’ T-shirt has been convicted of IRA membership.
The Special Criminal Court heard from Det Chief Supt Philip Kelly yesterday that Vincent Kelly (21) was around 15-years-old when he joined the organisation.
Kelly, from Empress Place, Ballybough, was arrested when gardai found a handgun hidden inside a van in north Dublin on June 7 last year.
Kelly had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA. However, Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, at the court three-judge Special Criminal Court, said the court had found him guilty as charged.
The judge said he accepted evidence from Det Chief Supt Kelly who said his belief that Vincent Kelly was a member of the IRA had been held for five or six years and was based on confidential information.
The judge said the court also found that Kelly had failed to answer material questions relating to the offence.
A fingerprint belonging to him had also been found in the back of the van.
Diarmaid McGuinness defending, sought bail for his client, however, prosecution counsel Tom O’Connell said Kelly had a previous conviction at the Special Criminal Court on November 6 2000 when he received a three-year suspended sentence for the offence of unlawful military drilling.
The application for bail was turned down.
Kelly was remanded in custody until June 28 for sentencing.
