A young Dublin man who was caught taking part in a "Real IRA" training camp in Co Meath last year was given a seven-year suspended sentence at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday.
Stephen Kelly (18), of North Clarence Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Offences Against the State Act of participating in training or drilling in the use of firearms at Herbertstown, Stamullen, Co Meath, on October 20th last year.
Mr Edward Comyn SC said the State accepted the guilty plea, and other charges against Kelly, of possession of firearms and ammunition, would not be proceeded with.
Det Supt Peter Maguire, of the Special Detective Unit, said Kelly made a "full and frank" admission to gardai. He admitted he went to the area to be trained in the use of firearms.
Kelly said he had been shown how to use the assault rifle and strip it down. He said the training camp was organised by the "Real IRA".
He said Kelly had no previous convictions and came from a good family. He had been led by older people into taking part in the training camp as part of his induction into the subversive organisation.
Kelly told Mr Patrick Gageby, defending, in evidence that he would have nothing more to do with any subversive organisation. "I am sorry for wasting the State's time. It will never happen again," he said.
Mr Justice Morris, presiding, said that the court regarded the offence as very serious.
But he said that Kelly deserved a chance and the court had taken into account the fact that he had no previous convictions and came from a good family.