Article 39 of the 1937 Constitution of Ireland defines treason as follows: Treason shall consist only in levying war against the State, or assisting any State or person or inciting or conspiring with any person to levy war against the State, or attempting by force of arms or other violent means to overthrow the organs of government established by this Constitution, or taking part or being concerned in or inciting or conspiring with any person to make or to take part or be concerned in any such attempt.
It was a capital offence, until the death penalty was abolished in 1990.
[2] The sentence now is life imprisonment, with parole in not less than 40 years.
[3] Section 2 states that anyone who "encourages, harbours, or comforts any person whom he knows or has reasonable grounds for believing to be engaged in committing treason shall be guilty of felony."
The Act also provides that "No person shall be convicted of treason on the uncorroborated evidence of one witness."