IRA man with Courtown ties is sentenced

A Dublin man whose fingerprints and DNA were found in a house in an estate in Courtown, that contained Semtex explosive and rockets, has been jailed for six years by the Special Criminal Court.

Ryan Glennon, (25), of Macken Villas, Macken Street, Dublin, was convicted by the new Special Criminal Court last month of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on May 13, 2015.

The three-judge, non-jury court found him guilty having heard evidence from Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan that he believed, based on confidential information, Glennon was an IRA member.

Mr Justice Robert Eagar, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, said that the accused man’s refusal to answer questions relating to the investigation during interviews with gardaí was ‘supportive and corroborative’ of the claims made by the Chief Superintendent.

Mr Justice Eagar said that the court drew inferences based on Glennon’s refusal to answer material questions.

The court heard that gardaí asked him a number of questions, including was he a member of the IRA, was he involved in IRA activity and why his fingerprints and DNA were found in a house in Courtown that contained Semtex explosive, rockets and materials that would be used in making improvised explosive devices. Glennon did not answer any of these questions.

He said the evidence was also supported by testimony from members of the National Surveillance Unit, who said they saw Glennon in the house in Courtown where the explosives were discovered, four days before the garda raid. Gardaí raided the house on May 13, 2015.

Mr Justice Eagar said that physical evidence placed Glennon at the scene and connected him to the explosives found there.

Glennon’s fingerprints were found on a handcart, which was holding a water butt which in turn was used to store explosive materials. He also said there was evidence that Glennon’s DNA was found on a pair of gloves discovered in the kitchen, where more explosive materials were located.

The case was the first trial at the second Special Criminal Court, which became operational earlier this year because of a two-year delay in cases coming to trial at the original non-jury court.