Share But the Crown lawyer said the statement had a provenance and had been located in original case files that were re-examined by the police's historical inquiries team in 2010. He said a 'gateway' had been established to admit it as hearsay evidence to the trial with the agreement of both the defence and prosecution. The family of Joe McCann arrive at Laganside Court with Solicitor Niall Murphy on Monday morning Joe McCann's long IRA career in full over just seven years of attacks 1965 - Joins the IRA at the age of 17 Dec 3, 1965 - Convicted of possessing Army bayonets and being an IRA member and was sentenced to a year in prison.