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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| IRA membership case against Padraic Wilson and Sean Hughes collapses | IRA membership case against Padraic Wilson and Sean Hughes collapses |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A major IRA membership trial has collapsed at Belfast Crown Court. | A major IRA membership trial has collapsed at Belfast Crown Court. |
| The prosecution offered no evidence in the case against two senior republicans, 52-year-old Sean Hughes and Padraic Wilson, 55. | The prosecution offered no evidence in the case against two senior republicans, 52-year-old Sean Hughes and Padraic Wilson, 55. |
| No reason was given by the prosecution barrister in court, but it is understood a number of key prosecution witnesses have withdrawn their evidence. | No reason was given by the prosecution barrister in court, but it is understood a number of key prosecution witnesses have withdrawn their evidence. |
| The judge duly acquitted both men. | The judge duly acquitted both men. |
| Mr Hughes, of Aghadavoyle Road, Jonesborough, south Armagh, and Mr Wilson, of Hamill Park, west Belfast, were facing charges including IRA membership and addressing meetings to encourage support for the IRA. | Mr Hughes, of Aghadavoyle Road, Jonesborough, south Armagh, and Mr Wilson, of Hamill Park, west Belfast, were facing charges including IRA membership and addressing meetings to encourage support for the IRA. |
| The meetings allegedly took place at Clonard Monastery in west Belfast and Holy Cross Church in north Belfast. | The meetings allegedly took place at Clonard Monastery in west Belfast and Holy Cross Church in north Belfast. |
| The charges dated back to 2005. The pair had previously pleaded not guilty to them. | The charges dated back to 2005. The pair had previously pleaded not guilty to them. |
| Neither Mr Wilson nor Mr Hughes appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court for the brief hearing, although both were present in the court building. |