A convicted murderer, Catherine Nevin, has applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal for a State document containing a list of pubs - including that owned by herself and her late husband, Jack White's Inn, near Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow - which might have had connections with the IRA. The court reserved its decision.
Nevin claims she requires the document for her appeal against her conviction for the murder of her husband, Mr Tom Nevin, on March 16th, 1996, at the pub. She has already been given free legal aid by the State.
In an affidavit, Mr Garrett Sheehan, solicitor for Nevin, said that after her trial ended the Chief State Solicitor had informed him that the DPP's attention had been drawn to a 1991 document from the Garda anti-racketeering unit which was in the possession of the Revenue.
The document had listed a number of public houses, including Jack White's Inn, which were marked for attention in relation to any connection which the pub or its owners might have with the IRA or suspected members of the IRA.
The letter stated that Jack White's Inn was included because a pub formerly run by the Nevins - Barry House in Finglas - had been frequented by people suspected of having IRA connections.
The document in the Revenue's possession might have revealed if any inquiries were made at local Garda level into the possibility of a connection between Jack White's Inn, Mr Nevin and the Provisional IRA, Mr Sheehan said.
To prosecute her appeal, Nevin would require the document showing the list of pubs and any supporting documents.
In a replying affidavit, Deputy Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said it had come as a complete shock to the State when Nevin had, at her trial, alleged her husband was involved in the IRA.
The State had not intended to conceal a document from Nevin's lawyers.
Apparently, the disputed document was drawn up in 1991. It listed a number of public houses for the purpose of further discussions between the Revenue and Garda.
It would be incorrect to label the document as being related to Garda or Revenue suspicions.
Jack White's Inn was included on the list because people suspected of having connections with the IRA had frequented Barry House in Finglas, which was formerly managed by Tom and Catherine Nevin. Barry House was close to a Sinn FΘin advice centre.
The DPP had not been aware of the document during the trial.
Mr Conroy said no prosecution was ever initiated against any owner or manager of any pub on the list and Mr Nevin was never suspected by garda∅ of any involvement with the IRA or any other subversive activity.