Campbell convicted of Real IRA membership

A Co Louth man has been convicted by the Special Criminal Court of Real IRA membership - his second conviction within two days…

A Co Louth man has been convicted by the Special Criminal Court of Real IRA membership - his second conviction within two days for membership on two different dates.

Liam Campbell (41), a  married father of two, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth was convicted of being a member of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on July 29th, 2001.
 
Yesterday,  he was convicted of membership of an illegal organisation on a separate date - October 3rd, 2000.
 
Campbell had pleaded not guilty to both charges but his legal team did not challenge the prosecution evidence and made no submissions on his behalf.
 
Chief Superintendent Peter Maguire told the court that Campbell was convicted in October 2001 for the membership charge relating to October, 2000 and had been sentenced to five years imprisonment but the Court of Criminal Appeal had quashed the conviction in December last year.
 
The Chief Superintendent said that Campbell had been on bail on the original charge when he was arrested at the Neptune Beach Hotel in Co Meath in July, 2001.  He has served over three years in custody, the Chief Superintendent added.
 
Campbell has no previous convictions.
 
The court remanded him in custody for sentencing next Monday.