Monaghan man goes on trial accused of IRA membership

A Monaghan man has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organization styling itself the Irish Republican Army before the Special Criminal Court. Jim Smyth, aged 44, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, is accused of IRA membership on November 25th, 2015. The prosecution opening heard that gardaí conducted an operation near two derelict houses at Knockatallon, County Monaghan, following a briefing by senior officers at Monaghan Garda Station. A detective garda gave evidence of observing Mr Smyth walking up a laneway at approximately 9:25pm before his arrest by Detective Sergeant Gerry Doherty. The prosecution outlined that interviews conducted under the Offences Against the State Act would be heard, along with evidence from a seven-day search following his arrest. A fingerprint matching Mr Smyth's was found on a medicine pillbox recovered during the search. The trial, before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and two other judges, continued.