Latest news with #OffencesagainsttheStateAct
Belfast Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Man released from custody after police make safe device found in Co Armagh house
The IED was recovered during a house search in the Keady area on Monday. Police attended the property after a man was arrested in Co Monaghan on Sunday in connection with the discovery of bombs in the Republic of Ireland. He has now been released without charge. "A man in his 40s arrested as part of this investigation has been released from the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 without charge,' said an AGS spokesperson. "A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The investigation remains ongoing.' The Army had supported the PSNI raid which took place in the Tassagh Road area of Co Armagh, during which the IED was dealt with. 'Police have recovered and made safe an improvised explosion device and removed a number of items from a house search in Keady,' a PSNI spokesperson said. 'The items and the device were seized and taken away for further forensic examinations." The operation is focused on a potential link to a hoax device discovered in Co Armagh earlier this month. "Officers carried out a search at the location in support of an investigation by An Garda Síochána in Monaghan," the police spokesperson added. 'Enquiries are continuing and at this stage, police are investigating a potential link between this search and a security alert which occurred at the Ballyards Road area of Milford in Armagh on Tuesday July 1.' Gardai previously said the arrest in the Republic came as part of the investigation into the discovery of a number of attempted IEDs in the north-east and south-west of Ireland including at premises near Foynes in Co Limerick. The suspect was also being investigated for possible links to dissident republicans. The probe also follows the discovery of devices in Castleblayney Co Monaghan last week. Tory grandee Norman Tebbit dies aged 94 PSNI Detective Inspector Winters said: 'Our enquiries are continuing in relation to this investigation, as we work closely with our colleagues from An Garda Síochána. "We would appeal to anyone who may be able to assist to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 361 07/07/25. "Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at
RTÉ News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Offences against the State Act renewed without vote
Sinn Féin has insisted that it would have abstained on the renewal of the Offences against the State Act but it was ultimately not put to a vote after the party's Justice spokesperson was outside the Dáil chamber when it was passed. Matt Carthy had "stepped out" for a few minutes during the debate on the emergency measures that are renewed by the Oireachtas annually. When he returned, to an almost empty Dáil, he was told by the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that the matter had been dealt with. Earlier, he had told the Dáil that the emergency legislation, which dates back 90 years, should not be used on an ongoing basis. Mr Carthy called for the the introduction of a modern legal framework to tackle organised crime and to protect jurors. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said that he has accepted in principle the recommendations from a independent review group. It called for the repeal of the Act along with the establishment of a non-jury court on a standing basis. It would be available when ordinary courts were inadequate. However, he said this would have to be approached with the utmost caution and he indicated that the new system may not be in place before the Offences against the State Acts are due for renewal again next year. The Minister said that so called 'dissident republicans', who have their origins in the Provisional IRA and the INLA, continue to pose a threat, the Dáil has heard. Despite the progress towards peace made over the years, they continue to seek to return to the fruitless violence of the past, he said. "They have remained resolute in their opposition to democracy and rule of law and all that the Good Friday Agreement stands for; and they remain wedded to brutality and criminality," Minister O'Callaghan said. He said that it is also important not to lose sight of the threat from violent extremism and international terrorism. The Minister added that terrorism - particularly jihadist and lone actor attacks - remains a key risk to the EU's internal security. Ireland is not immune from the threats arising in this changed security environment, and the country must have the capability to deal with them, the Minister said.
RTÉ News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'Dissident republicans' continue to pose a threat, Dáil told
So-called 'dissident republicans', who have their origins in the Provisional IRA and the INLA, continue to pose a threat, the Dáil has heard. The Minister for Justice said that despite the progress towards peace made over the years, they continue to seek to return to the fruitless violence of the past. Minister Jim O'Callaghan was speaking in the Dáil ahead of a vote on the renewal of the Offences against the State Act. "They have remained resolute in their opposition to democracy and rule of law and all that the Good Friday Agreement stands for; and they remain wedded to brutality and criminality," Minister O'Callaghan said. He said that it is also important not to lose sight of the threat from violent extremism and international terrorism. The Minister added that terrorism - particularly jihadist and lone actor attacks - remains a key risk to the EU's internal security. Ireland is not immune from the threats arising in this changed security environment, and the country must have the capability to deal with them, the Minister said.
The Journal
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Justice Minister to repeal State's counter-terrorism laws and replace Special Criminal Court
THE MINISTER FOR Justice is set to repeal the State's counter-terrorism laws and establish a new non-jury court to replace the Special Criminal Court. Jim O'Callaghan told Cabinet that he has accepted the recommendations made in a 2023 majority report following an independent review of the Offences Against the State Act. He said that while the Act has served the State well, 'an updated approach is now required to fit the modern security landscape'. The Department of Justice said that acceptance in principle of the recommendations 'follows consultation and a close examination of the reports from a policy, governance and legislative perspective'. The Special Criminal Court (SCC) is a three-judge criminal court, without a jury, that deals with terrorist and organised crime cases. The court has no jury in order to avoid any potential intimidation of its members. The court is enabled by the Offences Against the State Acts, the first of which was published in 1939, with subsequent amendments in 1972 and 1998, respectively. The counter-terrorism legislation was enacted to prosecute members of the IRA and declare any similar organisations unlawful. However, as it is emergency law, it must be renewed each year. More recently, the Special Criminal Court has been used to deal with the deadly rise in gangland crime and organised criminal enterprises. The legislation and its court have been criticised by Amnesty International, the United Nations and The Irish Council of Civil Liberties over the last number of decades. In 2023, an expert group recommended that the Special Criminal Court be replaced with a new court that has additional safeguards and transparency. While the majority report also called for the Offences Against the State Act to be 'repealed in its entirety', a minority review from the same expert group took a different view, saying that a permanent non-jury court would be 'constitutionally inappropriate'. 'Clear direction for reform' 'The Offences against the State Act has served the State well and fulfils a vital role in our criminal justice system. However, an updated approach is now required to fit the modern security landscape,' O'Callaghan said. Accepting the recommendations of the majority report sets a clear direction for reform. Advertisement O'Callaghan said proposals for reform must be 'thoroughly considered and approached with the utmost care'. 'This is to ensure we do not do anything to undermine the efforts of the authorities with responsibility for countering terrorism and organised crime.' He also emphasised the continued need for a non-jury court, which was recognised by a majority of the 2023 review group. 'Trial by jury is an important, though not unqualified, right under our Constitution,' he said. 'The Review Group proposal recognises, and it is clear to me as Minister for Justice, that a non-jury court remains necessary to try serious criminal offences in certain exceptional cases where the ordinary courts are inadequate'. O'Callaghan welcomed the Government's acceptance of the need to renew security-related legislative provisions while proposals for reform are developed. Act will be renewed for further year Despite the move towards reform, the Act will have to be renewed again next month for a further year. The Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 made amendments to the initial acts, as well as creating new offences, while the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 put a number of legislative measures in place to tackle organised crime. Both Acts provide that certain provisions shall cease to be in operation unless a resolution is passed by each House of the Oireachtas resolving that those provisions should continue. These provisions are due to expire on 29 June unless they are renewed. O'Callaghan said it is necessary to renew these legislative provisions while proposals to replace the Offences against the State Acts are being developed, adding that he intends to bring the required resolutions to the Oireachtas in the coming weeks. 'It is the Government's duty to ensure that those tasked with protecting us from this threat have at their disposal the appropriate measures to meet it,' he said. 'The provisions I am seeking to renew are necessary and required to support An Garda Síochána in investigating, disrupting and dismantling the activities of terrorists and criminal gangs.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
