The wife of a self-proclaimed IRA chief-of-staff has admitted recording court hearings while tuned in by video-link for her husband’s remand hearings.
Lorraine Murphy (49) from Altowen Park, Coalisland accepted six counts of making an unauthorised recording of an image or sound being transmitted through a live video or audio link.
Offending occurred during sittings of Dungannon Magistrates Court in April, May and June 2022.
The defendant’s husband Kevin Barry Murphy (52) is currently charged with professing to belong to a terrorist organisation, directing terrorist activities and possessing an article for use in terrorism.
It is further alleged he engaged in preparation for acts of terrorism by being the IRA chief-of-staff and a member of the army council.
In addition, he is accused of assisting in recruitment to and formation of the IRA executive and attending meetings in Gortin and Sixmilecross, as well as being involved in reviewing the IRA constitution and developing the strategy.
Murphy also allegedly monitored the role of others within the IRA, oversaw operational activities, reviewed security and intelligence structures, engaged with groups internationally travelling to Brussels and Lebanon as well as endeavouring to obtain resources, munitions and weapons for the IRA.
Finally, he faces two counts of conspiring to direct acts of terrorism.
There are nine co-accused in the case who all face similar allegations.
Covert recordings carried out by a state-agent allegedly captured discussions on the IRA executive, recruitment, weaponry, an economic bombing campaign, close-quarter shootings of police officers and cyber-attacks.
The majority of the defendants remain remanded in custody but some have been granted bail. All regularly attend reviews at Dungannon Magistrates Court by video-link which is when Mrs Murphy is illegally recorded the hearings.
Due to the nature and venue of offending the case had to be transferred to Laganside Magistrates Court and could not be heard by the Dungannon resident District Judge Michael Ranaghan as he was one of those captured in the recordings.
Having denied all charges, the case was listed for a contested hearing on Monday before District Judge Steven Keown. However Murphy changed her plea at the last minute, accepting intentionally making unauthorised recordings of proceedings.
Judge Keown imposed fines of £150 on each count to a total of £900.
A prosecuting barrister applied for the phone used by Murphy to record and retain the court proceedings to be forfeited, however the defence said this was disproportionate.
He argued: “There is bound to be someone within the PSNI with the skills to delete the contents off the phone and return it to my client, so there can be no concerns as to the reproduction of any files or videos. My client is facing fines of £900 in circumstances where she makes £135 per week. This would be the equivalent of another £300 or £400 on top of that. She simply doesn’t have the means.”
Judge Keown rejected the application given “the defence have no issue with police deleting the offending material from the device”.
Once this has been done Murphy’s phone is to be returned to her.