IRA membership charge against Garda killer struck out

Adrian Crevan Mackin

An IRA membership charge against Adrian Crevan Mackin who murdered Garda Tony Golden earlier this month was struck out at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Tuesday.

Prosecution solicitor Michael O’Donovan told the three judge court that his instructions were that “the matter be withdrawn and the single charge struck out”.

Mackin (25), of Mullach Alainn, Omeath, shot dead Garda Golden and seriously injured his partner Siobhan Phillips at the family home in Omeath on October 11th before killing himself.

He was charged in January with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on January 16th.

He was granted bail on his own bond of €100 and an independent surety of €5,000 on January 27th and had been complying with his bail terms when he murdered Garda Golden.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, said that it had occurred to him that the deceased person would not be in a position to defend himself against any allegations of breach of his bail.

His counsel Mr Tony McGillicuddy BL said that the parties would discuss the question of the bail and the matter was put in for mention again on November 5th.

McGahon challenges Adams to lie detector test over IRA claims

Paudie McGahon

A Louth man who claims to have been the victim of IRA sex-abuse as a child has called on Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to take a polygraph test to determine whether he was a member of the IRA or not.

The Louth TD has always claimed never to have been a member of the IRA but Ardee man Paudie McGahon told The Sunday Independent today that he witnessed Adams admit to being the leader of the illegal organisation on a number of occasions.

McGahon said he heard Adams make the admissions at closed republican meetings which he attended as a teenager in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Now the father of three has challenged Deputy Adams to consent to a lie detector test if he refuted the allegations.

“Gerry Adams spends much of his time denying his past and the only way of establishing what is true or false is for him to take an independent polygraph test,” said McGahon

“I personally heard Mr Adams telling groups of die-hard republicans that he was both the leader of Sinn Féin and the IRA. I used to go to these meetings with my father from the time I was 13 – my father was a big republican sympathiser, which is why our home was being used as a safe house for IRA volunteers like the man who raped me.”

The 40-year-old from Ardee said that he was brought to the secret meetings because he was being “groomed” for recruitment.

The meetings took place in Louth, Monaghan, Donegal and Tallaght in west Dublin

Read the full story here.

Senior Garda in Dundalk receives death threats from criminal gang he is investigating

News of the threat comes just days after an estimated 4,000 Gardaí attended the funeral of Garda Tony Golden in Blackrock

A senior Garda in Dundalk has reportedly received death threats from a criminal gang he has been investigating.

News of the threat comes just over a week after the murder of Garda Tony Golden in Omeath and less than three years since the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in Bellurgan.

The Irish Sun reported today that a senior detective in Dundalk Garda Station was followed home by gang members who are said to be serious in their threats against him.

Gardaí are treating the threat, which occurred last month, seriously and say that security precautions have been put in place.

The gang are believed to be associates of Adrian Donohoe’s killers.

A source told the paper: “The detective who has been threatened has been a real thorn in the side of the criminal gang operating in Dundalk.

“Gardai received intelligence the gang was planning to kill him or cause him serious harm and security precautions were put in place.

“Friends of the gang who murdered Detective Donohoe are also still making threats by letting Gardai know where they live.

“They’re just some of the many threats issued to gardai working in one of the most difficult policing environments in the country.

“These people don’t care about the fact two innocent men have lost their lives and are a law on to themselves.”

Coincidentally, the murder threat comes hot on the heels of news that an additional 25 uniformed Gardaí have been sent to Dundalk in the past week.

There had been reports following Garda Golden’s murder that as many as 40 troops would be sent to the local Garda Division but it was confirmed yesterday that this number is now 25.

Garda Headquarters also said an intelligence led investigation has been established into serious crime in the area involving various specialist units.

However, a spokesperson refused to comment on a Sunday newspaper report which claimed there has been an IRA mole in the gardaí locally.

The Sunday Independent reported that a number of investigations were being reviewed amid concerns they may have been compromised.

A garda spokesperson declined to comment except to say that the newspaper report was ‘being examined.’

Omagh accused deny having any significant assets

Liam Campbell

Two of the four men found liable in a civil action for the 1998 Omagh bombings have denied having any significant assets.

Liam Campbell and Michael Colm Murphy were questioned before the Master of the High Court Edmund Honohan yesterday by lawyers acting for relatives of the 29 people killed in the atrocity.

The relatives sought the questioning in aid of execution of a judgment they obtained in a Northern Irish Court.

The families’ lawyers are seeking details of all shares or interests in companies they may hold, savings or monies held in bank accounts, as well as details of any debts or liabilities they may have.

In what was at times a heated and testy exchanges, both men said they had no interest in several properties mainly located in Co Louth.

Mr Campbell, who said he has been unemployed for many years and last got a social welfare payment in the 1980s, said the only assets he owns are half shares, along with his wife, in the family home and a 3.5 acre plot of land adjoining their home.

Mr Murphy, who strongly denied having anything to do with either the Omagh bombing or having any involvement in the IRA, said he had no assets as his ex-wife had “cleaned me” following their divorce.

Mr Campbell of Upper Faughart, Dundalk and Mr Murphy of Lower Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth were, along with Michael McKevitt and Seamus Daly, found responsible for the 1998 atrocity by the High Court in Belfast.

They were ordered to pay the families a total of £1.6m sterling. That judgment has been formally recognised in the Republic.

They were ordered by the High Court in June to provide sworn statements disclosing their assets and means. The victims’ families claimed the two failed to provide such statements.

Colm Murphy

Last month, their lawyers secured orders from Mr Justice Anthony Barr directing that the two be attached and brought before the High Court in Dublin to explain their alleged contempt.

Yesterday both men, who their lawyers said came in a voluntary capacity, attended for questioning before Master Honohan.

In response to questions from Andrew Robinson Bl for the families, Mr Murphy angrily rejected an assertion by counsel that he was ever a member of the IRA.

He said he was wrongly charged and convicted before the Special Criminal Court in respect of the bombing.. He said he was convicted because of “garda perjury”, and was subsequently acquitted at a retrial.

As he was charged “nobody wanted to have anything to do with me.” he said.

He lost his construction business, which had employed 60 people, because he was charged in connection with the bombing.

He accepted having previous involvement with property assets and a company, but now “I own nothing,” he said.  After his arrest everything “got f**ked up” he said.

In response to Mr Robinson’s questions, Mr Campbell denied having any interest, in the past or currently, in approximately half a dozen properties located in Athlone, Co Westmeath, Castlebar, Co Mayo, or in Co Louth or to companies.

Several of the properties it was claimed were in the ownership of people alleged to be relatives of Mr Campbell.

The court also heard of the relatives concerns the properties may have been transferred by Mr Campbell to others who now hold the properties for his beneficial interest.

Mr Campbell rejected this, and said the only properties he had any interest in were the family home and adjoining lands. 

Following their examination both men undertook to each provide a sworn statement containing a list of all their assets, such as property, worth more than €5,000, which they have an interest in, by October 23.

Source: Independent.ie

Phillips family break silence to pay tribute to Garda Golden

Siobhan Phillips

The parents of Siobhan Phillips, the woman fighting for her life after being shot in the incident that led to the death of Garda Tony Golden in Omeath on Sunday evening, have broken their silence to pay tribute to the fallen officer.

Sean and Norma Phillips said: “We would like to pay tribute to and express our condolences to the family and colleagues of Garda Anthony Golden.

“Garda Golden, in the service and protection of others, laid down his life for my daughter Siobhan, myself and my family.

“There are no words to express our gratitude for his bravery, we are forever in his debt.

“Our beautiful daughter Siobhan, a loving mother, sister and friend, is fighting for her life.

“For now, we pray for Siobhan’s recovery and for the family of Garda Golden as they face their immeasureable grief.”

The Phillips family also asked for privacy as their daughter continues to fight for her life.

The 21-year-old mother of two remains in hospital after being shot by Adrian Crevan Mackin in the same incident which claimed the life of Garda Golden on Sunday evening.

Siobhan and Garda Golden had drove to the Mullach Alainn estate in Omeath after giving a statement at the local Garda Station that she was in fear of her life.

The pair were accompanied by her father Sean, stepmother Norma, aunt Lorraine McBride and brother Ryan Phillips.

On Friday evening, Siobhan – who concealed much of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Crevan Mackin from her family in order to protect them – was subjected to a prolonged overnight attack by Crevan Mackin. He threatened to kill her and her entire family.

Siobhan was “battered black and blue” when she left her home on Saturday morning to go to work as a hairdresser in her native Newry. She applied makeup to conceal her facial wounds and even put blue and black eyeshadow on one of her eyes to make it seem as if the marbled look was intended.

It was anything but.

Nothing could conceal her fear and on Saturday afternoon she called her stepmother Norma Phillips with the simple words “Norma, I’m terrified.”

Following Siobhan’s cry for help, the Phillips family travelled immediately to Dundalk Garda Station on Saturday to make a formal complaint about Crevan Mackin, but say they were told they had to make the complaint at Siobhan’s local garda station in Omeath.

Adrian Crevan Mackin was well known to gardai in Louth. At the time of Garda Golden’s murder, he was signing on three times a week after being charged in the Special Criminal Court last January on charges of membership of the IRA.

Garda Tony Golden RIP

Such were her injuries, Siobhan Phillips attended Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry on Saturday night, where staff expressed alarm at the seriousness and notified the PSNI about the assault.

Siobhan did not return to her home on Saturday night and ensured her children were safe with family. Determined never to return to Crevan Mackin, Siobhan and her family travelled on Sunday to Omeath.

There they met Garda Golden, who listened to her story and dutifully took her statement.

It was, says Sean Phillips, the first time that Siobhan had felt safe – safe enough to venture home to Mullach Alainn and retrieve some belongings. Garda Golden said he would accompany Siobhan Phillips for what proved to be a final, fatal assignment.

Entering into Mullach Alainn, the trio saw Crevan Mackin’s car. Garda Golden told Sean Phillips to remain in the car so as not to aggravate Crevan Mackin.

Garda Golden and Siobhan Phillips opened the front door and entered the property. According to Sean, Garda Golden informed Crevan Mackin that they were simply there to retrieve some of her belongings.

Words were exchanged, but to no avail as, after a few moments, Garda Golden and Siobhan Phillips were met by a hail of bullets fired by Crevan Mackin, who turned an illegal Glock handgun on the pair before killing himself. Sean Phillips told The Irish Independent he is in no doubt that Garda Golden saved Siobhan’s life and spared his.

Shot Garda named as father of three Tony Golden

Garda Tony Golden RIP

An IRA terror suspect out on bail shot dead a garda responding to a domestic incident in Omeath last night.

The unarmed and uniformed officer murdered in the gun attack was a married father of three.

The officer, Garda Tony Golden – who lived in Blackrock – was responding to a 999 call that a woman felt threatened in a domestic incident in the village.

She was also seriously injured in the hail of bullets and was being treated in hospital. The gunman – named locally as 24-year-old Adrian Crevan Mackin – then turned the handgun on himself, taking his own life.

It is understood Gardaí escorted the woman to the house in Mullach Alainn to collect her personal items. When the woman entered the home she went to the bedroom where her and Garda Golden were shot.

The killing of the courageous young garda caused widespread shock and revulsion. Tributes were paid to the slain officer by his superiors and the government.

Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan said she was deeply saddened to hear of the death of her colleague while carrying out his duties.

Garda Representative Association President Dermot O’Brien described Garda Golden as a ‘hero’.

“Ireland has lost a hero; he laid his life on the line for the community he served,” he told Newstalk’s Breakfast this morning.

“Tony was a married man with three young children, and yesterday he went to a call and, sadly like all members of An Garda Síochána, his dedication to serve and protect has ended with the tragic loss of his life.”

The series of events which led to the shootings unfolded at a house in the Mullach Alainn estate in Omeath around 6pm. There were reports that young children may have been in the house at the time of the shooting.

It is alleged a Northern-registered BMW car seen driving away from the scene was later stopped by the PSNI in Newry.

A Garda source said the motorist, a Polish national, may be a potential witness to what happened in the quiet housing estate.

Adams again denies being a member of the IRA despite just 4% of poll believing him

Gerry Adams

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has again denied ever being a member of the IRA – despite being presented with an opinion poll earlier this week which showed that just 4% of voters believed him.

The Louth TD said the 89pc of people surveyed by RTÉ show ‘Claire Byrne Live’, who believe he was a member of the IRA, are “absolutely” wrong.

The survey took the opinions of 1,000 people, and just 7pc said they didn’t know if they believed Mr Adams.

Mr Adams said he thought it was a “settled matter” and that his denial had been his “consistent position”.

“I stood for an election in Louth, they’re the people who voted and trust me.

“The people in the next election will have the opportunity to sack me if they so wish, so let’s not get distracted,” he said.

When probed by Claire Byrne as to what response he has to people who don’t believe him when he denies he was a member of the IRA, the Sinn Féin TD said he doesn’t “say anything to them”.

The survey also asked people whether it mattered to them if Mr Adams was a member of the IRA. Some 47pc of respondents said that it did matter, while 45pc said it didn’t.

Mr Adams added: “I say vote for Sinn Féin in the next election. I say to them vote for Sinn Féin to continue our work in the peace process.”

Gardaí to review search for Ciara Breen shortly

Gardaí will review the search operation for missing Dundalk woman Ciara Breen shortly, they confirmed yesterday.

The search for Ciara’s remains at Balmer’s Bog, off the Ardee Road, has now entered a fourth week with bomb components the only discovery of note so far. It is believed to have been from an IRA hide from the 1980s.

The search on a specific area of the 16 acre site began 22 days ago following a recent tip-off to Gardaí.

The then 17-year-old hasn’t been seen since leaving her home in the Bachelor’s Walk area of Dundalk on February 13^th 1997.

It is expected the search will be halted shortly if nothing of note turns up.

Gardaí also confirmed that another person had come forward with information and made a statement as late as last Sunday.

Two local men, one in their 50s and the other in his 60s, have been arrested in relation to Ciara’s disappearance so far this year but both have been released without charge.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with further information to contact them at Dundalk Garda Station.

Families of Omagh victims hunting assets of those they believe were responsible for bombing

Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly are among the men who could have their assets seized

Relatives of the victims of the Omagh bomb have launched a three-pronged legal strategy aimed at securing money and assets from the four men found liable for the August 1998 atrocity.

According to a report in yesterday’s Sunday Business Post, the move could lead to bankruptcy proceedings being taken against the men, including Blackrock man Michael McKevitt – if they don’t come up with €2.2 million in compensation to the relatives.

The move will see legal advisers question not only members of the gange, but also this wives, in court this year about whether they have assets that can be seized in the Republic.

The families are seeking any asset worth more than €5,000 to be disclosed by the four men.

A third party discovery motion has also been lodged against the Criminal Assets Bureau seeking information about what assets the state agency has identified as connected to the quartet.

Real IRA director of operations Liam Campbell, from Faughart, and builder Colm Murphy, from Mountpleasant, are both facing an examination hearing in front of Mr Justice Seamus Noonan on October 14^th.

Lawyers for the families had also hoped to quiz Real IRA leader McKevitt about here his money is but are unable to do so because he is serving a jail sentence in Portlaoise prison.

The families have also been unable to serve papers on bricklayer Seamus Daly, from Culloville, Co Monaghan, because he is in prison in the North.

The lawyers plan to question the men’s wives – Bernadette Sands McKevitt, Bernadette Campbell, Anne Murphy and Áine McKenna (the wife of Daly).

Each of the women will be asked about assets owned by their partners on November 4^th as part of a third party discovery application.

The families’ fight to force the men to pay them damages or face bankruptcy goes back to June 8^th 2009 when they won a landmark civil action in Northern Ireland against McKevitt, Campbell, Murphy and Daly.

The families’ civil action saw the men ordered to pay them €2.2m but so far they have refused to pay anything.

On April 23^rd this year, lawyers for the Omagh families succeeded in securing an order ensuring the damages were enforceable in the Republic, as well as the North, in front of the Master of the High Court Edmund Honohan.

Nobody has ever been convicted for the murders in Omagh, which claimed the lives of 29 people and two unborns.

Dundalk man jailed for 10 years for possession of car bomb

The church in Kilcurry where the device was intercepted

A local man has been jailed for 10 years by the Special Criminal Court after he was found guilty of the possession of a large car bomb destined for Northern Ireland.

The non-jury court today found Gareth Mulley (45) guilty of possession of the device, which was intercepted near the border last year.

Mulley, from Aisling Park in Dundalk , had pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of an explosive substance – PETN and RDX, an adapted 50 litre beer keg, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate homemade explosives, an improvised steel booster tube and an improvised time and power unit at Kilcurry Church, Co Louth on May 25th, 2014.

The court heard that Mulley was arrested after a garda operation against dissident republicans in the Co Louth area involving the Crime and Security Branch and the Special Detective Unit.

He was observed by gardai in the grounds of Kilcurry Church was arrested by members of the Emergency Response Unit after there was a transfer of material from a van to a northern registered Volkswagen Passat car.

The prosecution case was that the components seized were for a large beer keg bomb that was to be moved to Northern Ireland.

Returning judgement this morning, presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said the court found that Mulley transported the items and was part of an operation to transfer the same from one vehicle to another.

He said it was not an exaggeration on behalf of the prosecution to describe Mulley as having been caught “red handed”.

Called to give evidence today, Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce told prosecution counsel, Mr Paul Greene SC, that the device had the capacity to result in significant damage to property, as well as injury and loss of life to persons in the immediate vicinity if detonated.

He said the device would have a detonation range of 280 metres.

Det Sgt Boyce confirmed with Mr Greene that the accused has no previous convictions.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Butler said the bomb was a “very lethal device” that was not designed for any purposed other than to cause damage and could inevitably lead to loss of life.

He said the court had to consider the mitigating factors in the case, and it was significant the accused had no previous convictions and was on evidence a “committed family man” who was heavily involved in soccer in Dundalk.

However, Mr Justice Butler said this had to be set against the fact that this was a “very serious offence” and the court had “no indication whatsoever” as to future intentions.

“In those circumstances there can be no room for suspending any part of the sentence, we regard the matter so seriously,” Mr Justice Butler said.

Mr Justice Butler said the court believed the minimum sentence the court can impose was 10 years, which was backdated to June 1, 2014.

Mr Mulley was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, namely Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on May 25th, 2014.

Mr Greene asked that the court enter a nolle prosqui – a decision not to proceed – on that count.

Source: Irish Independent