A senior Special Branch officer told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that the "Real IRA" is "dedicated to maintenance of armed struggle against British rule in Northern Ireland".
Det Supt Peter Maguire was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of a Co Louth farmer accused of membership of an illegal organisation.
He said the "Real IRA" was made up of dissidents from the Provisional IRA and had evolved into a paramilitary organisation and had adopted the Army Orders of the Provisional IRA.
He said the adjective "Real" was "a media label but it was assumed by the organisation itself". Det Supt Maguire, who is in charge of operations with the Special Detective Unit - the Special Branch - said the "Real IRA" emerged in 1997 and was an alliance of dissident members of the Provisional IRA who were opposed to the peace strategy that organisation was engaged in.
He said the organisation referred to itself as ╙glaigh na h╔ireann, the IRA or Irish Republican Army and individual members were referred to as "volunteers or members of the army".
The "Real IRA" had developed a similar style and philosophy to other organisations that emerged from the original IRA. "It has a similar command structure, with a general headquarters staff, an Army Council and units made up of volunteers," he said.
Mr Liam Campbell (38), a married father of two, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to being a member of an unlawful organisation on October 3rd last year.
Prosecuting counsel Mr George Birmingham SC has told the court that the case against Mr Campbell consisted of the opinion of a Garda chief superintendent, items that were found during a search of Mr Campbell's home and nine interviews carried out by garda∅ at Kells Garda station after Mr Campbell's arrest.
He said the defendant had declined to answer material questions relating to his membership of an illegal organisation and the court was entitled under the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act of 1998 to draw inferences from that.
The court has heard evidence from Chief Supt Michael Finnegan that he believed Mr Campbell was a member of an unlawful organisation.
Det Supt Maguire said garda∅ had found 96 magnums of champagne during the search of Mr Campbell's house and these had been passed to Customs and Excise. Cross-examined by Mr Campbell's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, Det Supt Maguire said smuggling had been used to raise funds for illegal organisations.
The trial continues today.