'Informer information' leads Garda to believe accused is IRA man
A Garda Chief Superintendent has told the Special Criminal Court it is his belief that a Dublin father-of-two on trial for IRA membership is a member of the IRA.
Robert Nolan (aged 45) of Elmdale Park, Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on January 11, 2012.
The court heard the accused man was a passenger in a green Ford Mondeo car that was stopped by a marked armed response garda patrol car in the Ballinacurra Weston area of Limerick city on the afternoon of January 11 last.
Gardaí who searched the vehicle uncovered a Webley revolver in a brown paper bag which had been concealed under the front passenger seat where the accused man was sitting.
Chief Superintendent Kevin Donohoe told Mr Garnet Orange BL, for the State, it is his belief that Robert Nolan is a member of an illegal organisation within the state, namely the IRA, and was a member on January 11, 2012.
He told Mr Orange that his belief was “entirely independent” of any matter relating to the detention and investigation of the accused man for membership of the IRA.
Asked by counsel for the defence, Mr Micheal O’Higgins SC, if his belief was based on “informer information”, Chief Supt Donohoe replied that it was based on confidential information available to him from a number of different sources.
Chief Supt Donohoe said he was not in a position to furnish the defence with information on the sources with names and addresses redacted, as to do so would be imprudent and there were “preservation of life” issues associated with disclosing such documents redacted or otherwise.
Put to him that he was asserting privilege so he did not have to disclose the actual nature of his belief, Chief Supt Donohoe said that he was not “hiding anything” and had made a claim of privilege because he was satisfied that the divulgence of any level of detail would put lives at risk.
Closing speeches were heard in the trial this afternoon.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge Margaret Heneghan and Judge William Hamill, said the court would return judgement on November 14, and remanded the accused man on continuing bail until that date.
