Five remanded on explosives charges

FIVE MEN charged with unlawful possession of explosives at the Special Criminal Court yesterday have been remanded in custody.

The five are Jonathan Keogh (23), Seán McDermott Street, Dublin; Terry McConnell (27), Tullymore Gardens, Andersontown, Belfast; Cormac Fitzpatrick (22), Monaghan; Gareth Byrne (26), Kimmage, Dublin; and Gareth Piggott (25), Philipsburgh Terrace, Fairview, Dublin.

They were all charged with unlawful possession of explosive substances under the Offences Against the State Act.

Mr Byrne, Mr Piggott and Mr Keogh were also charged with membership of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), also under the Offences Against the State Act.

The men were arrested by gardaí from the Special Detective Unit on Tuesday at an apartment at The Crescent, Park West, Clondalkin, Dublin.

They are accused of being in possession of bomb-making equipment, including having steel piping, bulbs, propellant powder, batteries, wiring, travel alarm clocks and four-inch nails.

The court was told that when cautioned, Mr Keogh told Det Garda Gordon Wood that he was not a member of the INLA or any other illegal organisation.

When Mr Piggott was cautioned, he asked arresting Det Sgt Michael Ahern: “Is that the special or the district?”

The other men made no comment.

None of the five men, who were flanked by half a dozen gardaí, spoke during the proceedings in court, but each stood up one at a time to confirm his identity and to listen to the charges made against him.

When Mr Keogh stood, Mr Justice John McMenamin, who was presiding with Judge Joseph Matthews and Judge William Hamill, told him to take his hands out of his pockets.

Although all of the men were represented in court, no application was made for bail on their behalf.

The court remanded all five in custody to appear before next Thursday’s sitting of the Special Criminal Court.