THREE DUBLIN MEN have been brought before the Special Criminal Court, charged with IRA membership.

Jonathan Hawthorn of Ballintyre Downs in Ballinteer; James Geraghty of Dolphin House in Dolphin’s Barn; and Donal O Ceallaigh with an address on Beach Road, Sandymount were brought before a special sitting of the court this morning.

They were all charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on Wednesday.

Detective Garda Rory Geelon of the Special Detective Unit gave evidence of arresting 44-year-old Jonathan Hawthorn on the Irishtown Road in Dublin yesterday evening. He said he informed him that the DPP had directed he be charged with IRA membership, but that he made no reply to caution.

Detective Sergeant Eamon Hoey gave evidence of arresting O Ceallaigh (32) on the Irishtown Road in Dublin yesterday evening. He informed him that the DPP had directed he be charged with IRA membership, but he also made no reply to caution.

Detective Sergeant Alan McDevitt testified that he arrested 60-year-old Geraghty on Dublin’s Kevin Street yesterday evening. He said that he replied: ‘I’m not a member of any group’, when informed that the DPP had directed he be charged with IRA membership.

None of the three accused stood when requested to do so by the registrar, who read over the charge to each of them.

The three-judge court, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding, granted Sarah Jane O’Callaghan BL’s request for free legal aid for Geraghty. Kathleen Leader BL for Hawthorn and Dean Kelly BL for O Ceallaigh said they would make similar applications at a later date.

All three were remanded in custody and are due in court again on Tuesday. Their barristers said they hoped to apply for bail on that day.

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