ONE of the so-called `Hooded Men', a group seeking revision of a controversial judgment on their detention during the Troubles, has been appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with assisting the IRA.
Belfast man Kevin Hannaway and four co-accused were arrested on Saturday afternoon as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity in the Dublin Region, led by the garda Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit and Crime and Security Branch.
Three people from Belfast were among four men and a woman arrested by gardaí in a crackdown on dissident republican activity.
The Garda operation was targeting the IRA in west Dublin at the weekend and led by the Special Detective Unit, the Emergency Response Unit and the Crime and Security Branch, focusing on the Dublin 15 area.
All five individuals were detained under Section 30 of the Republic’s Offences Against the State Act, 1939/1998.
They were held for questioning at a number of Garda stations across Dublin before being brought before the non-jury court.
Kevin Hannaway is one of a group of men detained by British security forces who are seeking revision of a controversial 1978 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, which said their treatment was "inhuman and degrading" but not torture.
The 67-year-old, of Collin Mill was last night charged with knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA, "whether directly or indirectly in the performance or furtherance of an illegal" object on August 7 and 8.
Edward O'Brien (41), of Hazelcroft Road, Finglas, Dublin and Eva Shannon (59) of Oakman Street, Belfast are charged with the same offence on the same date.
David Nooney (52) of Coultry Green, Ballymun, Dublin, and Sean Hannaway (47), of Linden Gardens, Belfast are each charged with IRA membership on August 8.
Detective Garda Connor Morgan told State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan that he formally arrested Kevin Hannaway at Tower Road, Clondalkin, Dublin at 2.50pm yesterday.
Det Gda Morgan said that he explained to the accused man the reason for his arrest in ordinary language and cautioned him, to which Mr Hannaway replied: "I understand".
He said that at the time he believed the accused man, who appeared before the court wearing a grey blazer and slacks, had committed the offence for which he was arrested.
Mr O'Donovan told the court that his application was for a remand in custody for all five accused.
Judge Martin Nolan remanded the five in custody to appear before the court again on August 17.
A Garda spokesman said that the detectives would continue to “liaise closely” with their PSNI counterparts in relation to the ongoing investigation.
