A Co Louth construction worker has been sentenced to five years in jail for membership of the INLA.
Anthony Lee (33) of Carnbeg, Doylesfort Road, Dundalk was convicted on October 28th last after an eight day trial at the Special Criminal Court.
Lee was one of two men arrested when the car in which he was a passenger tried to drive through a Garda roadblock in Dundalk on December 20th, 2007.
A search of the car’s boot revealed two bags, containing Garda uniforms, two bulletproof jackets and two black bomber jackets, emblazoned with an assault rifle logo and “Republican Socialist Movement Dundalk” on the back.
Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Special Detectives Unit, told the sentencing hearing today the men were being observed as part of an investigation into the activities of the INLA.
During the trial, Chief Superintendent Patrick McGee said it was his belief that Lee was a “member of an illegal organisation, namely the INLA”.
The three-judge court, Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding, sentenced Lee to five years in jail to date from November 25th.