A Sinn Féin member who was found with surveillance details on Dáil politicians has been sentenced to four years in prison for Provisional IRA membership.
35-year-old Niall Binead from Crumlin in Dublin was convicted at the Special Criminal Court along with co-accused Kenneth Donohoe from Tallaght, who also received a four-year jail term.
Binead was described as a branch secretary of Sinn Féin in Dublin's south city. It is understood that he is a friend of TD Aenghus Ó Snodaigh, as well as his election worker.
The court heard that documents found at Binead's home included the names of a number of politicians and Dublin criminals.
These included a note that former Justice Ministers the late Jim Mitchell of Fine Gael, PD founder Des O'Malley, and John O'Donoghue of Fianna Fáil were seen drinking in Rathgar.
The court also heard evidence linking Binead and Donohoe to the scene of what was thought to have been a planned hijacking in Bray in October 2002.
Presiding Judge Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan said that the discovery of the documents, as well as the defendants' insolent and provocative refusal to answer garda questions, backed up the belief of a Garda Chief Superintendent that both men were Provisional IRA members.
Imposing the prison terms, the judge noted that both men had a conviction for threatening to use a weapon during anti-drug activities.
