The head of the Real IRA in Munster and his deputy were among five men convicted by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday of membership of an illegal organisation.
Supt James Browne told the court that Ciarán O'Dwyer was the head of the Real IRA in Munster and in charge of operations in Cork and Limerick.
The superintendent said that Ultan Larkin was O'Dwyer's second in command. "He is not a foot soldier," he said.
The five men were convicted after Mr Justice Richard Johnson took more than two hours to deliver a 90-page judgment following a 20-day trial. The men were remanded in custody for sentencing on Monday.
Ciarán O'Dwyer (50), Castletroy View, Limerick; John Murphy (25), Kilbarry, Old Mallow Road, Cork; Ultan Larkin (34), Farranshone, Limerick; Gerard Varian (46), Bride Valley View, Fairhill, Cork; and Aidan O'Driscoll (26), Glenheights Park, Ballyvolane, Cork, had all pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, on December 15th, 2003.
After the convictions Det Supt Tony Quilter, Anglesea Street, Cork, told the court that the men belonged to the group know as the Real IRA and that Varian, O'Driscoll and Murphy were an active service unit of that organisation based in Cork city.
The superintendent said that Varian, Murphy, Larkin and O'Dwyer were observed by gardaí on two occasions, on July 13th, 2003, and September 21st, 2003, meeting in the car park of the Deerpark Hotel, Charleville, Co Cork.
Supt James Browne said that O'Dwyer was convicted of IRA membership in 1973 and was jailed for a year then.
He was also jailed in 1990 for 12 years for possession of 40,000 rounds of ammunition, seven AK-47 assault rifles, a handgun and Semtex and was released in 1995 as part of the Belfast Agreement.
"Since then he has been a leading light in the Real IRA in the Munster area and is in charge of operations in Limerick and Cork," he said.
Assistant Commissioner Jerry Kelly gave evidence during the trial that he believed that Larkin and O'Dwyer were members of an illegal organisation. Det Chief Supt Michael McAndrew gave evidence that he believed Varian, Murphy and O'Driscoll were each members of an illegal organisation.
Varian, Larkin and O'Dwyer each denied on oath that they were members of the IRA or any illegal organisation. Murphy and O'Driscoll both exercised their right not to give evidence.
The court also heard during the trial that Insp Michael Comyns had observed Varian and Murphy leaving a wreath at the republican plot at St Finbarr's cemetery in Cork in April 2003.
The wreath was made of leaves with a green, white and orange ribbon on it and had a note attached with the inscription: "Let the fight go on - Real IRA, 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion."
Convicting the men, Mr Justice Johnson said the court accepted beyond a reasonable doubt the evidence of Assistant Commissioner Kelly and Chief Supt McAndrew.
He said these beliefs were corroborated by the failure of each of the accused to answer material questions relating to membership when questioned by the gardaí.