More than 40 people were detained under emergency anti-terrorism laws in the last year, figures reveal. In addition to these arrests, conducted under 1998 laws, over 100 people were detained in the same period under the State's foundation 1939 anti-terror legislation. Some 13 people have been convicted of terror offences in the last 12 months and a further 34 are awaiting trial. In a report renewing emergency powers in the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said dissident republican groups pose a “real and persistent threat”. There has been a substantial drop in detentions under Section 2 of the 1998 Act, relating to the drawing of interferences from an accused's failure to answer questions relating to the offence of membership of an unlawful organisation.

Source: Irish Examiner June 14, 2019 16:18 UTC