Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

On August 11, a device wrapped in plastic was discovered in Limerick. An army
explosive ordnance disposal unit carried out a controlled explosion to destroy the device.
On August 21, Army bomb disposal teams dealt with four separate incidents in Dublin,
two of which involved viable explosive devices.
On September 3, RIRA leader Alan Ryan was killed in north Dublin.
On September 17, a petrol bomb did considerable structural damage to Sinn Fein Irish
Member of Parliament Aengus O Snodaigh’s constituency office in Dublin. No one was
injured.
On October 5, Garda uncovered what they believe to be a pipe bomb-making facility in
north Dublin. Garda later arrested the man suspected of directing the facility.
On November 1, David Black, a prison officer from Northern Ireland, was murdered on
his way to work; an investigation is underway. A Dublin-based alliance of dissident
republican splinter groups claimed responsibility for his murder.
On December 4, Eamon Kelly, an alleged criminal gang leader and dissident republican,
was shot in north Dublin.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: On November 9, the Irish government
approved the drafting of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2012. This
bill, if enacted, would amend the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 and create three
new offences of: (1) public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, (2) recruitment for
terrorism, and (3) training for terrorism.
A series of investigations into historical cases from “The Troubles” related to the Smithwick
Tribunal were ongoing at year’s end. The Smithwick Tribunal, begun in 2006, is reviewing the
events surrounding the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert
Buchanan of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the predecessor to the present day Police Services of
Northern Ireland. Public hearings for the tribunal began in July 2011.
The Irish government has a good track record in responding positively and thoroughly to U.S.
requests for cooperation on all law enforcement issues.
2012 arrests related to terrorist activity included:
On February 7, Garda arrested two men as part of an ongoing investigation into dissident
republican activity.
On June 11, Garda arrested two men for dissident republican activity.
On July 3, Garda arrested a man and seized a gun during an investigation into dissident
republican paramilitary activity.
On September 15, three men were charged by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin with
membership in the RIRA. They were among 17 people who were detained during
Operation Ambience, a Garda investigation into a paramilitary display that transpired at
the funeral of RIRA boss Alan Ryan.
On September 27, police in Dublin investigating dissident republican activities arrested
two men after surveillance equipment was found in a hotel room overlooking a Garda
station.
2012 prosecutions related to terrorist activity included:
78