Kevin Hannaway: Gerry Adams' cousin charged with 'IRA connections'

Kevin Hannaway has been charged with “knowingly rendering assistance" to the IRA

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and his party were left disappointed by the result of the referendum (PA)

A cousin of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has been charged with terrorism offences after allegedly being connected to the IRA.

Kevin Hannaway, 67, was one of five people arrested by Gardai as part of an operation clamping down on dissident Republican activity.

Mr Hannaway, who is from Belfast, is accused of “knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann.”

Edward O’Brien, 41, and Eva Shannon, 49, have been charged with the same offence.

David Nooney, 52, and Sean Hannaway, have been charged with IRA membership.

All five were remanded in custody and are due to appear before the court again on 17 August.

The Hannaways are a well known family based in West Belfast. Kevin Hannaway is the cousin of Gerry Adams, whose mother was Anne Hannaway.

Mr Hannaway was detained without trial by British Armed Forces in 1971 on suspicion of IRA membership. He became known as one of the ‘hooded men’ of the Troubles who took a case before the European Court of Human Rights arguing that they had been tortured by British authorities.

The court found against the men at the time. However, in June of this year they were granted leave to seek a judicial review of the controversial judgement.