A former corporal who served 26 years in the Defence Forces yesterday denied he was a member of the IRA at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
"I have never been sworn in to an illegal organisation, ever," Mr Martin Kelly told his defence counsel Mr Peter Finlay SC. "I have no political views whatsoever, I couldn't give a damn," he said.
Mr Kelly (47) of Westpark, Artane, Dublin, was giving evidence during his trial for membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on July 29th, 2002.
The court heard that Mr Kelly joined the Defence Forces at the age of 19 years, became a corporal in the engineering section and served six tours of duty in the Lebanon. He spent 22 years working along the Border and was trained in firearms, bomb disposal and explosives.
Earlier in the trial a witness, Mr David Mooney, told the court that Mr William Clare demanded €50,000 for the Continuity IRA to allow his lap dancing club Bunnies to open in Temple Bar. Mr Mooney, who is in the witness protection programme, also said that he handed over a total of €15,000 to Mr William Clare and Mr Martin Kelly.
When questioned about Mr Mooney's mention of this in court, Mr Kelly replied: "I think that was Mr Mooney's imagination."
Mr William Clare (35) of Adare Park, Coolock, pleaded guilty last week to membership of the IRA.
Closing for the State, Mr George Birmingham SC said the evidence from several witnesses supported the fact that "significant sums of money were paid over to Billy Clare and Martin Kelly" and the "circumstances were inconsistent with that of legitimate business". The trial concludes today.