Members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit and the National Surveillance Unit raided a bungalow in Co Limerick after confidential information was received about a bomb, a court has heard.
The evidence was given at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday where a 30-year-old Limerick man went on trial charged with possession of a number of items including an explosive device and Cortex detonating cord.
Mr Sean Smith, Loughmore Mungret, Co Limerick, also with an address in Swinford Gardens, Brixton, London, is charged with possession of an explosive device at Loughmore, Mungret, Co Limerick, on June 3rd, 2003.
He is also charged with possession of a Sterling sub-machinegun for an unlawful purpose on the same date and with possession of an explosive substance, namely Cortex detonating cord.
Mr Smith is also facing three charges of possession of cocaine, with a street value of over €13,000, for the purpose of unlawful sale and supply on the same date.
He denies all the charges.
Yesterday the court heard that gardaí raided a bungalow where the accused man is alleged to have lived, following a surveillance operation.
Det Insp Jim Browne told the court that the surveillance operation was mounted after he received confidential information about a man - not in court yesterday - who was allegedly in possession of a bomb.
The court heard that the accused was one of four men observed at the bungalow during the operation.
When gardaí entered a shed attached to the house they found a number of items including an explosive device, the sub-machinegun and Cortex detonating cord.
Cocaine was found hidden in a concrete pipe situated near the rear of the shed, the court heard.
The trial continues today.