Eight men arrested after gardaí swooped on a suspected Continuity IRA training camp in Co Waterford in 2003 have pleaded guilty to firearms offences at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
A ninth man pleaded guilty to similar charges in December.
During a bail hearing in August 2003, one of the men told the court that the men were deer-stalking in advance of the hunting season but gardaí said they were taking part in a training camp in the Comeragh Mountains.
Yesterday Patrick Deery (53), of Woodhouse, Stradbally, Co Waterford, Joseph Mooney (36), of Ozzier Court, Co Waterford, John O'Halloran (34), of Ross Avenue, Mulgrave St, Limerick, Mark McMahon (36), of Commodore Barry Park, Wexford, Patrick J. Kelly (37), of Belvedere Grove, Wexford, and Dean Coleman (23), of Clarina Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of an American model rifle at Knocknaree, Knockatedaun, Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, on August 3rd, 2003.
Thomas Barry (21), of Larchville, Lisduggan, Co Waterford, and Brian Galvin (38), of Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a Baikal under and over shotgun at Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, on the same date. In December Michael Leahy (23), of McCarthyville, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a sawn-off, single-barrel shotgun at Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, on the same date.
During a bail hearing in August 2003, Mooney told the court the men were stalking deer and, asked if this necessitated wearing a balaclava, he replied he needed to cover up so the deer would not spot him. The court remanded Deery, Galvin, O'Halloran, Barry and Coleman in custody and the other four men on bail until February 22nd, when it will hear evidence before sentencing.