Man jailed for membership of 'Real IRA'

One of five men being sued by relatives of the Omagh bombing has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for being a member of…

One of five men being sued by relatives of the Omagh bombing has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for being a member of the "Real IRA".

Séamus Daly (34), of Culloville, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to membership of an illegal organisation.

The former builder looked relaxed as he entered court and showed no reaction as sentence was passed.

Chief officer in the case, Det Supt Tadhg Foley, confirmed in court that Daly had been convicted with membership of the "Real IRA".

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He said that this faction of the Provisional IRA came into effect in 1997 and had interfered with the peace process and been involved in illegal activities in the North.

These included the use of firearms, operating training camps for illegal organisations and being involved in armed robberies and explosives offences that had caused enormous loss of life, including the 1998 Omagh bombing.

Judge Paul Butler said: "In this case, as in many cases that I am aware of, we have no evidence of the level of involvement in this organisation, of the accused.

"He has not been convicted of any previous offence and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and credit must be given for guilty pleas."

Daly, Seamus McKenna, Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy are being sued for €13 million by relatives of the Omagh bombing victims, who claim they were responsible for the attack on the Co Tyrone town.

PA