Gardaí recovered a large quantity of Sinn Féin posters, including election posters for the party's TD Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh, from a car in which they also found a stun gun and a CS gas canister, the trial of five men accused of IRA membership heard yesterday.
The Special Criminal Court was shown the posters which said: "Sinn Féin No 1 Aengus Ó Snodaigh" and the stun gun re- covered by gardaí from the boot of a car in Bray in October, 2002.
Gardaí also found cable ties, car number plates, a blue flashing light similar to that used in emergency vehicles, and a roll of tape.
The trial of the five Dublin men, who were arrested in Bray, has heard that gardaí detained the five men after they were seen acting suspiciously by an off-duty Special Branch officer.
They have pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 11th, 2002.
They are Mr Thomas Gilson (24), of Bawnlea Avenue, Jobstown, Tallaght, Mr Patrick Brennan (40), of Lindisfarne Avenue, Clondalkin, Mr Seán O'Donnell (32), of Castle Drive, Sandymount, Mr John Troy (22), of Donard Avenue, and Mr Stephen Birney (30), of Conquerhill Road, Clontarf.
Chief Supt Peter Maguire has told the court that he believed the men were members of a Provisional IRA active service unit attached to the Dublin Brigade of that organisation.
He said he believed that organisation was on ceasefire and he immediately ordered an investigation into what was going on.
Mr Tony Murphy said he was a member of the Ballyfermot Sinn Féin cumann and that he agreed to allow his van to be used for election activities for the party. He said on October 10th, 2002, someone called to his door, indicated that he was from Sinn Féin and asked could he have the van for election purposes.
He gave him the keys but next morning when he went to go to work the van was not there.
Mr Murphy said he believed the van was to be used for "postering".
He said that he left a number of personal items such as a driving licence, cable ties, football gear and passport photos in the van. He said he was aware that when the van was found by gardaí at Bray it contained a number of other items including a sledgehammer, pick axe handles and balaclavas which had nothing to do with him.
Asked by Mr George Birming- ham, prosecuting, if he felt aggrieved that his van was "used in this fashion", Mr Murphy replied: "Sort of."
The trial continues today.