Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 - Ireland

Overview: The United States and Ireland collaborated closely on our bilateral and regional counterterrorism, law enforcement, and information-sharing issues. An Garda Siochana (the local and national police service of Ireland, referred to as Garda in this report) has comprehensive law enforcement, immigration, investigative, and counterterrorism responsibilities and works closely with American counterparts. In 2013, there were incidents by dissident republican groups (also referred to as criminal terrorist groups by the Irish Department of Justice), that generally targeted intra-republican factions and often involved other criminal activity. Members of dissident groups living in Ireland provided support for some of the violent actions committed in neighboring Northern Ireland. The immediate targets of violence were law enforcement personnel and the security structures of Northern Ireland in an attempt to disrupt the ongoing post-peace process community rehabilitation efforts. Irish authorities handled these legacy issues stemming from "The Troubles," and were actively involved in dealing with transnational terrorism issues.

On December 3, the report by the Smithwick Tribunal was published. The inquiry was set up in 2005 to examine claims that a member of the Garda had passed information to the IRA which allowed the IRA to ambush Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan – the two most senior Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers killed during the Troubles – after they left a meeting in a Garda station in March 1989. While unable to establish a "smoking gun" or firm evidence, Judge Smithwick assessed that collusion between someone in the Garda and the IRA had taken place. The Irish government issued immediate apologies about the role of the State in the killings.

2013 Terrorist Incidents: There were no significant terrorist attacks in 2013, but the Irish Minster for Justice has assessed the threat from criminal terrorist/dissident republican groups as "severe." In 2013, there were 250 occasions when Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams were called in response to a report of an improvised explosive device (IED), which resulted in the discovery of 70 viable IEDs disarmed and analyzed by Ireland's Army bomb disposal teams. On November 22, a car bomb exploded on a housing estate in County Donegal. There were no injuries and Garda sealed off the scene and evacuated a number of homes in the area.

Legislation and Law Enforcement: In 2013, no new legislation was passed exclusively pertaining to counterterrorism. However, on April 18, Minister for Justice, Equality, and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, presented the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offenses) (Amendment) Bill 2013 to the House.

The Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service works closely with UK immigration authorities on a series of joint data sharing initiatives. The aim of such cooperation is to enhance the protection of the external borders of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and detect and prevent illegal movement within the CTA by persons seeking to exploit the immigration, visa, and asylum systems of either country.

The development of improved biometric visa data sharing arrangements is being prioritized by both Ireland and the UK and work has commenced on a joint project to use the UK's global network of visa application centers, technical infrastructure, and data network to capture biometrics (fingerprints) of Irish visa applicants on Ireland's behalf. The project will enable the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS) to capture and process biometrics for all visa applications to Ireland – approximately 85,000 per annum – regardless of the geographical origin of the application.

Arrestsand law enforcement actions included:

• On February 9, two men from County Limerick appeared in court in Dublin charged with membership of an unlawful paramilitary organization. The two were arrested after police seized rocket launchers and explosives in County Tipperary.

• On March 9, three Dublin men were charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly in County Meath, and charged with membership in an illegal organization.

• On April 9, 50-year-old Rose Lynch pleaded guilty in Dublin to killing a man, David Darcy, in November 2011. She had also been accused of IRA membership. She had believed Darcy, an innocent man, had been responsible for the killing of Continuity IRA (CIRA) leader Liam Kenny.

• On July 11, Garda seized explosives, firearms, and ammunition in Dublin. The haul was believed to have been stolen from the Provisional IRA in 1998 when the Real IRA split from it. The capture included 15 kilograms of Semtex explosive.

• On September 22, Garda made one of the biggest seizures of dissident republican arms and explosives following a search in Meelick, in County Clare. The seizure consisted of a substantial amount of explosives, ammunition, recently manufactured bomb detonators, and a variety of firearms, tear gas containers, magazines, and balaclavas.

• On November 2, two men were arrested in County Monaghan in connection with suspected dissident republican activity. Garda stopped the van the men were driving and discovered 200 kg of fertilizer as well as other bomb-making material.

• On November 19, an individual who manufactured three mortar launch tubes on behalf of a criminal terrorist/dissident republican network was given a five-year jail sentence.

• On December 2, Garda arrested two men suspected of being dissident republicans over the murder of a prison officer in Northern Ireland.

• On December 18, a joint operation between PSNI and Garda foiled a plot by dissident republicans to launch a bomb attack. A device was found and two individuals were arrested.

Countering the Financing of Terrorism: Ireland is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). On June 12, the Irish government enacted the Criminal Justice Bill of 2013, which amends certain provisions of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. These amendments make some technical improvements and are aimed to ensure a closer alignment of Irish law with the international standards set by the FATF. Assets worth approximately US $2,041,460 have been frozen in the State's credit institutions pursuant to EU measures which implement UNSCR 1373 (2001).

The Charities Act, enacted in 2009, provides a comprehensive legislative framework for the regulation of the non-profit sector. Under the terms of the Act, a new independent regulatory agency – the Charities Regulatory Authority – is to be established to regulate the sector.

In June 2013, FATF recognized that Ireland had made significant progress in addressing the deficiencies identified in the 2006 mutual evaluation report and therefore removed Ireland from the regular follow-up process.

For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, see the 2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.

Regional and International Cooperation: Ireland held the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of 2013. Ireland is a member of all relevant regional and international bodies to combat terrorism. This includes the Council of Europe, the OECD, the OSCE, and NATO's Partnership for Peace. Garda routinely engages with regional and international entities for training and operational support.

In addition to counterterrorism capacity building in foreign states, it is important to mention counterterrorism efforts in a regional context with Northern Ireland. The Irish Defense Forces provided a robust EOD capability to the civil authority, routinely deploying to investigate and disarm ordnance around the country. The 2nd Brigade, which is responsible for the Dublin area and the northern half of the country, including the entire border with Northern Ireland, responded to over 150 reports of explosive devices in 2013.

Countering Radicalization to Violence and Violent Extremism: The Government of Ireland continued its efforts to assist with the integration of minority groups in Ireland. These measures included providing social benefits, language training, and the proactive advocacy work of an Ombudsman's office.