FIVE men and a woman gave clenched fist salutes to loud applause and shouts of "Up the Republic" when they were jailed for between five and seven years each by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday.
The six were convicted of having a sawn off shotgun, a revolver, five shotgun cartridges and two rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances at Tallaght in Dublin last May.
Convicted were Martin McGrath (45), from Co Fermanagh with an address at Eastend, Main Street, Bundoran, Co Donegal; Joe Mounsey (36), of Shallee Drive, Claughley, Ennis, Co Clare; Sean Patrick Moore (25), from Portadown with an address at Beechgrove, Monaghan; Richard Wallace (30), of Clarina Avenue, Limerick; George Buckley (21), of Springdale Road, Raheny, Dublin; and Josephine Hayden (53), of Knockmore Grove, Tallaght.
Hayden was elected to Republican Sinn Fein's ard comhairle as a general secretary last November.
Mounsey and Buckley pleaded guilty to possession of the arms and ammunition for an unlawful purpose. They pleaded not guilty, to having the arms with intent to endanger life or with intent to commit a robbery. The other four made no reply when arraigned on Thursday and pleas of not guilty were entered on their behalf.
The court found all six not guilty of having the guns and ammunition with intent to endanger life and with intent to commit a robbery. Mr Justice Morris said mere possession of the weapons was not evidence of such an intent.
The court sentenced Hayden, McGrath and Moore to six years imprisonment each; Wallace to seven years; and Mounsey and Buckley to five years each.
Mr Justice Morris said the court regarded the offences as "extremely serious". He said the group was engaged in some serious criminal activity by possession of the weapons" and that the sawn off shotgun was an appalling weapon that could cause serious injury.
There was prolonged applause from about 30 supporters and shouts of "Up the Republic" and "Tiocfaidh Ar La" after the sentences were handed down. The six gave clenched fist salutes and waved as they were led out.
Det Supt Basil Walsh of the Special Detective Unit said Wallace had 13 previous convictions, Buckley had two, Mounsey had three previous convictions and Hayden, McGrath and Moore had no previous convictions.
The court was told that armed Special Branch detectives stopped a van in Tallaght on May 4th last. Four of the six were in the back and Wallace had the shotgun between his knees.
Gardai also found a loaded revolver, a wig, false moustaches, a balaclava and hold all bags in the van. Hayden was the front seat passenger in the van and McGrath was the driver.