A man accused of membership of an illegal organisation carried the coffin of a former RTÉ actor at his paramilitary-style funeral, the Special Criminal Court heard today.
A number of gardaí alleged in court that the accused, Mr Declan Carroll, wore military-type clothing at the funeral of Mr Robbie Doolin, described by dissident republicans in a graveside oration as a "loyal and dedicated" IRA volunteer.
Mr Carroll, one of three people wearing black jackets, black trousers and black ties, was "acting on instructions given in Irish" a garda witness said, while five others formed a military-style "colour party".
The deceased was described at the oration as a having been a member of the 32-County Sovereignty Committee and a loyal member of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the witness said.
Mr Declan Carroll (24), of Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, Dublin has pleaded not guilty to being a member of an illegal organisation styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on November 29th, 2000.
The court heard that documents found in a search of the accused's bedroom during his arrest bore the fingerprint of a man later charged with IRA membership.
The court earlier ruled that evidence of garda interviews with the accused be admitted into evidence.
The court will rule tomorrow on defence submissions that the accused's presence at republican funerals should not be used to "prop up" a charge of membership. If that was the case, an "awful lot of people" would be in jail, defence counsel Mr Peter Finlay SC said.