Dublin student has sentence suspended in IRA case
A Dublin student was given a three years suspended sentence by the Special Criminal Court today for IRA membership.
Cillian Kelly (aged 24), of Riverwood Grove, Carpenterstown, Dublin 15 admitted membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on June 12 last year.
Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O’ Sullivan, Special Detective Unit, said that Kelly was arrested during an ongoing investigation into the activities of the IRA in Dublin.
During interviews with gardaí he admitted membership of the organisation and expressed remorse.
The Detective Superintendent said that Kelly who has just completed his first year as an engineering student at Bolton St had no previous convictions.
Cross examined by Kelly’s counsel Mr Paul Burns SC, the Det. Supt agreed that Kelly had expressed fears for his own safety and that of his family as a result of his involvement with the IRA.
He also said that Kelly has severed all contact with his former colleagues in the organisation. Mr Burns told the court that Kelly got involved with the IRA after he was approached while doing security at a night club.
He said that Kelly was vulnerable and easily led as a result of clinical depression which he had suffered for four years.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, said that the court would suspend the three years prison sentence for three years on condition that Kelly would not associated with his former colleagues in the IRA or with anyone convicted or charged with scheduled offences.
