A Dublin man told gardai that after he joined the IRA in May 1994 he was shown how to use guns and explosives at training camps in Sligo, Monaghan, Wicklow and Dublin, the Special Criminal Court has been told.
The court was told that in alleged statements to the gardai, Mr Anthony Duncan said he blew up a tree with a homemade bomb at a State forest in Co Monaghan during one training session.
He told detectives he was shown how to strip and load guns, including an AK 47 assault rifle and handguns, at a house in the Clondalkin area of Dublin.
Mr Duncan also made detailed alleged admissions of activity in Britain which the court directed cannot be published.
Mr Duncan (28), single and unemployed of Kippure Park, Finglas, has denied being a member of the IRA on April 12th, 1996.
The court was told that Mr Duncan was arrested by gardai at his home in Finglas on April 12th 1996. He was taken to Lucan Garda station and on April 13th he was arrested on foot of an extradition warrant issued by Bow Street Magistrates Court.
He was taken to the Dublin District Court where the court was advised that the warrant was defective. Mr Duncan was released and re-arrested on an IRA membership charge.
Det Chief Supt Michael Reid of the Special Detective Unit yesterday told the court he believed Mr Duncan was a member of the IRA on April 12th, 1996.
Cross-examined by Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, Det Chief Supt Reid said his belief was based on confidential information from members of the detective unit.
The court was also told yesterday that Mr Duncan allegedly told detectives during interviews at Lucan Garda station in April 1996 that he joined the IRA in May 1994 and added: "I am still a member of the IRA". He said he was sworn in at a house in Dublin.
Det Sgt Patrick Lynagh said that in one statement Mr Duncan said he was shown how to use incendiary devices in Sligo. At a training camp in Co Monaghan he was shown how to mix homemade explosives and blew up a tree.
Det Garda Thomas Byrne said Mr Duncan was "relieved" to talk about his IRA involvement. He denied suggestions that Mr Duncan's girlfriend, who was in custody at Lucan while he was there, had been used as "a lever" to induce him to make admissions.
The trial continues today.