Ireland Two men given suspended sentences for assisting Continuity IRA
Desmond Smith, 65, and Stephen Hamill, 52, were given suspended sentences at the Special Criminal Court for rendering assistance to the Continuity IRA in connection with a purported attack on Enniskillen police station in March 2021. A call to a media outlet about the attack triggered a search, in which an improvised slam gun was found close to the station. The Special Detective Unit arrested both men in February, and both pleaded guilty to rendering assistance to the IRA. On the latest development, reported on 14 October 2024, Mr Justice Tony Hunt gave Hamill four years suspended for four years on a €100 bond and Smith two years and nine months suspended for three years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced14 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Desmond Smith, 65, and Stephen Hamill, 52, were given suspended sentences at the Special Criminal Court for rendering assistance to the Continuity IRA.
- Where
- The purported attack was on Enniskillen police station.
- When
- A sequence of phone calls to media outlets was made between 13 and 16 March 2021.
- Cause
- A call to a media outlet about the attack triggered a search.
- Weapon
- An improvised slam gun was found close to the station.
- Investigation
- Smith and Hamill were arrested in February by the Special Detective Unit of An Garda Síochána.
- A search of Hamill's home led to phones being seized and to his arrest.
- Hamill bought telescopic pipes at a hardware store in Cavan in February 2021.
- Charges
- Both men pleaded guilty to rendering assistance to the IRA; one source gives Smith's plea as 18 March 2021, while the article says the men pleaded guilty earlier in 2024.
- In court
- Mr Justice Tony Hunt said neither man had any previous convictions of relevance.
- Sentence
- Hamill was given a four-year sentence, suspended for four years on a €100 bond.
- Smith was sentenced to two years and nine months, suspended for three years.
- Other details
- Counsel for Hamill said his client was under pressure for money at the time.
13 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)
- 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)
- chargeDesmond Smith pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA on 18 March 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- 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