Nine men who were arrested after gardaí raided a suspected Continuity IRA training camp in the Comeragh Mountains were sentenced yesterday to prison terms of between four and six years.
At the Special Criminal Court, Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, said that with the military nature of the exercise in which all nine participated and items found in follow up searches which indicated republican leanings, the court was satisfied all nine came together at a well-organised training camp to train in the use of firearms for a subversive or unlawful purpose.
Mr Justice Johnson recalled that gardaí acting on a tip-off had taken up surveillance in the Comeragh Mountains. Between 1.25 p.m. and 3.40 p.m. all nine were observed and gardaí heard 60 shots being fired. The judge said gardaí found all the constituents of a firing range - firearms, targets and spent cartridges. The judge said gardaí had observed Mooney giving instructions in the use of firearms, while Deery was ahead of the firing point and commands of "load, aim and fire" were issued.
The men sentenced yesterday Patrick Deery (53), a native of Claudy, Co Derry, with an address at Woodhouse, Stradbally, Co Waterford; Joseph Mooney (37), of Ozzier Court, Co Waterford; John O'Halloran (35), of Ross Avenue, Mulgrave Street, Limerick; Mark McMahon (37), of Commodore Barry Park, Wexford; Patrick J. Kelly (38), of Belvedere Grove, Wexford; and Dean Coleman (23), of Clarina Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, who pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a US rifle at Knocknaree, Knockatedaun, Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford on August 3rd, 2003.
Thomas Barry (21), of Larchville, Lisduggan, Co Waterford, and Brian Galvin (38), of Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a Baikal shotgun at Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, on the same date.
Michael Leahy (23), of McCarthyville, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun at Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, on the same date.
Deery, who the court found was the organiser of the training, was jailed for six years, and Mooney, who the court said was the person giving firearms instruction, was jailed for six years.
O'Halloran, McMahon and Kelly who were at the firing range, were each jailed for five years, Barry and Coleman were each jailed for four years in view of their age, and Galvin and Leahy who acted as sentries were each jailed for five years.