Judgment reserved in IRA membership trial
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin has reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of Real IRA membership.
The court reserved judgment until Friday morning, May 27, after a 20-day trial of three Cork men and two Limerick men who denied membership of an illegal organisation.
The five men are Ciaran O' Dwyer (aged 50), of Castletroy View, Limerick; John Murphy (aged 25), of Ashburton House, Kilbarry, Old Mallow Road, Cork; Ultan Larkin (aged 34), of The Bungalow, Farranshone, Limerick; Gerard Varian (aged 46), of Bride Valley View, Fairhill, Cork; and Aidan O' Driscoll (aged 25) of Glenheights Park, Ballyvolane, Cork.
They all pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on December 15, 2003.
Prosecuting counsel Mr John Edwards SC told the court the five men were allegedly members of the Real IRA.
Assistant Commissioner Jerry Kelly gave evidence during the trial that he believed the accused Larkin and O' Dwyer were members of an illegal organisation.
Detective Chief Superintendent Michael McAndrew gave evidence that he believed Varian, Larkin and O'Driscoll were all members of an illegal organisation.
Varian, Larkin and O' Dwyer all denied on oath that they were members of the IRA or any illegal organisation.
