The names of three former justice ministers were on an alleged IRA document found by gardaí in the home of a Dublin man accused of IRA membership, the Special Criminal Court was told yesterday.
The document contained the names of the late Jim Mitchell, Mr Des O'Malley and Mr John O'Donoghue as well as the names of other politicians, the court heard.
Det Sgt Joe Devine said the document, written on a cigarette paper, was headed "Politicians". It listed Mr Jim Mitchell, Fine Gael, Mr Des O'Malley, Progressive Democrats, Mr John O'Donoghue, Fianna Fáil, and said "drinking in Rathgar".
It went on to list "Jim McDaid, Donegal Fianna Fáil, and Brendan 'Rambo' McGahon, Fine Gael" and added, "backing horses in Paddy Powers just off Grafton St., Lemon St, just off Bewleys café". Det Sgt Devine said the document was found in a small briefcase during a search of the home of Mr Niall Binead, one of two Dublin men on trial for IRA membership.
Mr George Birmingham SC, prosecuting, said the prosecution viewed the document "as an IRA document".
Mr Niall Binead (35), also known as Niall Bennett, of Faughart Road, Crumlin, and Mr Kenneth Donohoe (26), of Sundale Avenue, Mountain View, Tallaght, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on October 10th, 2002.
Det Sgt Devine told the court that during a series of interviews about his alleged IRA membership, Mr Binead remained silent. He remained silent when asked if he was "gathering intelligence on elected members of Dáil Éireann in his capacity as an active intelligence officer of the IRA". Det Sgt Devine said the contents of other documents found in the briefcase were also put to Mr Binead, who again remained silent.
The court ruled that details of the other documents, including names, should not be published.