A Dublin man was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court today for membership of the 'Real' IRA.
Joseph Clarke (37), an unemployed father of four, of Forestwood Close, Santry Avenue, had denied membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on January 9th.
The court convicted Clarke of membership of the IRA yesterday after a trial last month.
Mr Justice John Mc Menamin, presiding at the three judge court, said that the court was satisfied that the opinion of Detective Chief Superintendent Philip Kelly - who had given evidence that Clarke had been a member of the organisation since 2002 - had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The evidence was corroborated by Clarke's failure to answer material questions when interviewed by gardaí, he added.
Sentencing Clarke, Mr Justice Mc Menamin said that the court had taken into account the nature of the evidence regarding his level of activity and continuity within the 'Real IRA'.
