Two jailed in ‘supergrass’ trial

Posted by Jim on March 10, 2017

There have been warnings that the 26 County government is once again
operating a supergrass system against political activists after an
alleged paid informer played a part in the conviction of two men
in Dublin this week.

Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly were jailed by the non-jury Special
Criminal Court on the basis of the testimony of David Cullen, who was
originally arrested and charged alongside the two men, before turning
state witness.

It was the second trial of McGrath and Kelly for the death of alleged
informer Peter Butterly after their first trial collapsed in January
2015.

In a statement, the Saoradh political party said Cullen’s testimony had
been fabricated for the purpose of securing convictions. They said
Cullen entered the republican E3 landing of Portlaoise Gaol four years
ago, also charged in connection with the Butterly killing, but in 2014
instructed his lawyer to contact the gardai and ask for the murder
charge to be dropped in return for statements.

“This was the beginning of a process of paid perjury,” they said. “Two
days later Cullen was taken away under the protection of armed guards…
Cullen’s relationship with special branch resembled a transaction, with
demands made for large sums of money and monthly payments being
arranged.”

They said Cullen attempted to implicate his own father and even his
landlord, but eventually Special Branch had others smeared and arrested,
one of whom was a republican prisoner already being held in Portlaoise
jail.

A first trial collapsed after the defence discovered the prosecution had
attempted to hide the fact that Cullen had admitted to gardai that he
had a serious grudge against one of the accused men.

“Even the so-called Special Criminal Court couldn’t sell this biased
version of events to the public,” Saoradh said. They warned progressive
groups that this case, “should it pass unchallenged”, would be used in
the future against protest groups, environmentalists, anti-war
demonstrators and trade union activists.

“As the state has shown in the past what it first perfects on Irish
Republicans it uses where and when and against whoever it chooses. It is
incumbent on all activists that come into conflict with the powers that
be, that they raise their voices now lest Republicans are telling them
‘we told you so’ when they become the target.”