Ireland Case No. 15792Rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation (Continuity IRA) · Co. Cavan
Two Cavan men given suspended sentences for assisting Continuity IRA
Desmond Smith, 63, and Stephen Hamill, 50, both men from Co Cavan, were charged with knowingly rendering assistance to the Continuity IRA in connection with an attack on Enniskillen police station in March 2021. A phone call to a media outlet about the incident triggered a search in which an improvised slam gun was found near the station. Both men were arrested by the Special Detective Unit in February 2022 and appeared before the Special Criminal Court in February 2023. They pleaded guilty in 2024 and were sentenced on 14 October 2024 to suspended terms: Smith to two years and nine months suspended for three years, and Hamill to four years suspended for four years on a €100 bond.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged14 Feb
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced14 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two men were sentenced to suspended terms at the Special Criminal Court for knowingly rendering assistance to the Continuity IRA in connection with an attack on Enniskillen police station.
- Where
- The attack was on Enniskillen police station; both men are from Co Cavan.
- When
- Phone calls about the incident were made to media outlets between 13 and 16 March 2021.
- Cause
- A call to a media outlet about the incident triggered a search.
- Weapon
- An improvised slam gun was found close to the station.
- Investigation
- Both men were arrested in February 2022 by the Special Detective Unit; Hamill was arrested at 8am on a Tuesday on foot of an arrest warrant issued the previous day, and a search of his home led to phones being seized.
- Hamill had bought telescopic pipes at a hardware store in Cavan in February 2021.
- Charges
- Smith, 63 (reports differ: 65), and Hamill, 50 (reports differ: 52), were charged with knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA.
- In court
- The two men appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 14 February 2023 and were remanded in custody with consent to bail until 13 March 2023; Mr Justice Tony Hunt presided and noted neither man had previous convictions of relevance.
- The men pleaded guilty in 2024.
- Sentence
- Smith was sentenced to two years and nine months, suspended for three years; Hamill was sentenced to four years, suspended for four years on a €100 bond.
- Other details
- Counsel for Hamill said his client was under pressure for money at the time.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men were handed suspended sentences at the Special Criminal Court for helping the Continuity IRA. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe purported attack was on Enniskillen police station. (thejournal.ie)
- whenBetween 13 and 16 March 2021, a sequence of phone calls were made to media outlets. (thejournal.ie)
- causeA call to a media outlet about the incident triggered a search. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponAn improvised slam gun was found close to the station. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationBoth men were arrested on Tuesday morning by members of the Special Detective Unit. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDet Sgt John Feeney of the SDU arrested Mr Hamill at 8am on Tuesday on foot of an arrest warrant issued the previous day. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSmith and Hamill were both arrested in February last year by the Special Detective Unit of An Garda Síochána. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA search of Hamill's home led to phones being seized and to his arrest. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationHamill had bought telescopic pipes at a hardware store in Cavan in February 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeStephen Hamill, 50, of Willow Ridge, Gortnakesh, Co Cavan, is charged with the same offence on 16 February and 13 March 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDesmond Smith pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA on 18 March 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe two men appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Tuesday 14 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe two men were remanded in custody with consent to bail until 13 March 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence counsel Breffni Gordon BL represents both men and told the court he would apply for legal aid on the next date. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe presiding judge is Mr Justice Tony Hunt. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Tony Hunt said neither man had any previous convictions of relevance. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceHamill was given a four-year sentence, suspended for four years on a €100 bond. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSmith was sentenced to two years and nine months, suspended for three years. (thejournal.ie)
- otherCounsel for Hamill said his client was under pressure for money at the time. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Oct2024Two men given suspended sentences for assisting Continuity IRA in attack that went unnoticed
Reports the sentencing of Desmond Smith and Stephen Hamill, who pleaded guilty earlier in 2024 to rendering assistance to the IRA. It gives the sentences imposed, the court's reasoning and the men's mitigation.
convicted, Desmond Smith, 65, male, named, irish (judged from name)Desmond Smithconvicted, Stephen Hamill, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Hamill - 14 Feb2023Two Cavan men charged in Special Criminal Court with ‘assisting IRA’
Records the initial charging and remand at the Special Criminal Court on 14 February 2023, including the specific dates of the offences (Feb 16 and Mar 13–19, 2021), the arresting detectives, and the next court date of 13 March 2023.
accused, Desmond Smith, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Desmond Smithaccused, Stephen Hamill, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Hamill