Duffy gets four years for INLA membership

The former leader of the INLA in Dublin, Declan "Whacker" Duffy, has been jailed for four years for membership of the organisation.

Earlier this month, at the Special Criminal Court, Duffy publicly turned his back on the terrorist group and pleaded guilty to the INLA membership charge.

He admitted membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish National Liberation Army, otherwise the INLA on June 22 last year.

Det Supt Diarmaid O'Sullivan told the court that gardai came into possession of confidential information in August 2007 that a businessman in Cork, Denis Maguire, had been made the potential target of a subversive organisation. He was to be detained and money extorted from him.

The court heard that Duffy was observed on October 18, 2007, in the company of another man. They drove to Cork and booked in at the Silver Springs Hotel under false names and addresses.

Problem

The following morning, Duffy and the other man drove to the home of Mr Maguire, at Lover's Walk, Montenotte. Gardai said Duffy entered and left the house

On November he was joined in Cork by three other men.

The four travelled together to the house at Lover's Walk, Montenotte. Duffy did not enter the house on this occasion, gardai said.

The following morning, he was again seen outside the house at Lover's Walk. Mr Maguire's wife drove into Cork city and was followed by Duffy.

Det Supt O'Sullivan said Mr Maguire then made an unexpected trip to Spain. "This created a problem for the people involved" in the intended extortion. Duffy and the men were seen parting company.

Duffy was arrested on June 22 last year. He has previous convictions at the Special Criminal Court.

In January 2001 he was sentenced to five years for possession of a handgun in 1999. He was also sentenced to nine years each for the false imprisonment of four men and detaining them without their consent, also in 1999.

Duffy's four-year sentence was backdated to July 2 last year.