IRA accused told gardaí that items 'could be for an orgy'
A man on trial for membership of the IRA told gardaí that boiler suits, cable ties and balaclavas found in the car he was in at the time of his arrest, could have been there for the purposes of an orgy.
Criostoir Mac Carthaigh (aged 33), of An Gleann, Baile Phamar (Palmerstown), was arrested on the N4 at Lucan in Dublin in March 2009, after gardaí intercepted two cars that had been travelling in convoy.
It is the state's case that the accused was en-route to an IRA fundraiser with a gang of alleged IRA members at the time.
Gardaí discovered four boiler suits, cable ties, balaclavas, latex gloves and two knives after searching the vehicles.
Mr Mac Carthaigh was subsequently charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself on the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 28, 2009.
He denies the charge.
The Special Criminal Court heard that during his interviews with gardaí at Shankill Garda station, the accused was asked to account for the presence of the balaclava in the car he was a passenger in.
Mr Mac Carthaigh replied “The car's not mine. Although I do use a balaclava for sex sometimes.”
When asked to account for the other items in the car and explain why they were there, he said: “I don't know. An orgy maybe.”
He repeatedly denied being an IRA member and also denied that he was the leader of an IRA operation and had purchased the boiler suits and cable ties.
The court heard previously that receipts for cable ties and four items of workman's clothing were found in the accused's car.
The trial resumes in the morning.
