A Northern Ireland man arrested after gardaí discovered a bomb-making operation near the Border last year was convicted by the Special Criminal Court yesterday of membership of an illegal organisation.
The court convicted Eamonn Matthews (25), Dublin Road, Killeen, Newry, Co Down, of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on June 13th last year. The court cleared Mr Paul Kelly (40), Cedarwood Park, Dundalk, Co Louth.
The court was told the two men were arrested after a major Garda operation in north Co Louth against dissident republicans, involving the Emergency Response Unit and the National Surveillance Unit.
The court heard that gardaí found two men, not the two accused, making home-made explosives at a farm shed at Thornfield, Co Louth. They also found traces of home-made explosives at another farm several miles away, where they found a grinder with traces of explosives.
Matthews had been seen the previous day driving a jeep and going to a local firm where he rented a cement-mixer.
Chief Supt Michael Finnegan told the court he believed Mr Kelly and Matthews were members of an unlawful organisation on June 13th, 2003.
Mr Justice O'Donovan, presiding, said there should be evidence that supported or corroborated the superintendent's belief before the court could convict either of them.
The judge said Mr Kelly was entitled to the benefit of the doubt.
In Matthews's case, the superintendent's belief was supported and corroborated by Matthews's failure to answer material questions, his association with the cement-mixer used to manufacture the explosive and his association with established IRA members and persons convicted of subversive crime.
The court remanded Matthews in custody for sentencing today.