Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6959IRA membership · 16 Dec 2014

DPP loses High Court challenge to miscarriage of justice finding for Michael Connolly

Michael Connolly, a 49-year-old man, was observed by gardaí driving in a convoy on 16 December 2014. He was charged with IRA membership, pleaded not guilty, and was convicted by the Special Criminal Court in 2017, a conviction later set aside on appeal, after which he spent 14 months in jail. He was found not guilty after a retrial in 2019, and in April 2021 the Special Criminal Court found a miscarriage of justice due to a grave defect in the administration of justice by agents of the State. In a ruling reported on 11 December 2023, Mr Justice Garrett Simons dismissed the DPP's High Court challenge to that finding.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court11 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Michael Connolly, a 49-year-old man, was charged with membership of the IRA.
When
Gardaí observed Connolly driving in a convoy on 16 December 2014.
Charges
Connolly pleaded not guilty to IRA membership.
In court
  • Connolly was convicted of IRA membership in the Special Criminal Court in 2017.
  • That 2017 conviction was set aside on appeal.
  • Connolly was found not guilty in 2019 after a retrial at the Special Criminal Court.
  • In April 2021 the Special Criminal Court found a miscarriage of justice due to a grave defect in the administration of justice by agents of the State.
  • The DPP asked the High Court to quash the miscarriage of justice certificate.
  • Mr Justice Garrett Simons dismissed the DPP's case in its entirety, ruling that its arguments were not well founded.
Sentence
Connolly spent 14 months in jail on the IRA membership charge.
Investigation
Connolly was acquitted after the court could not rely on the belief evidence of the Garda assistant commissioner as independent from the investigation.
Other details
Another man in the convoy was found with two improvised explosive devices.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMichael Connolly was convicted in 2017 of IRA membership, but the conviction was set aside on appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenConnolly was observed by gardaí driving in a convoy on December 16th, 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeConnolly pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtConnolly was found not guilty in 2019 after a retrial at the Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIn April 2021 the Special Criminal Court found a miscarriage of justice due to a grave defect in the administration of justice by agents of the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP asked the High Court to quash the miscarriage of justice certificate. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtConnolly was acquitted after the court could not rely on the belief evidence of the Garda assistant commissioner as independent from the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge ruled the DPP's arguments were not well founded. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAnother man in the convoy was found with two improvised explosive devices. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Dec2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    DPP fails in High Court attempt to have miscarriage of justice finding quashed

    Reports the High Court ruling on the DPP's challenge to the April 2021 miscarriage of justice certificate. Connolly was acquitted in 2019 after a retrial.

    accused, Michael Connolly, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Connolly