Five men on Ashford firearms charges

Five Dublin men appeared at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday on firearms charges connected…

Five Dublin men appeared at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday on firearms charges connected with the shoot-out near Ashford, Co Wicklow, on Friday, in which one man died.

Mr Ronan McLoughlin (28), from Ballymun, Dublin, died when gardai opened fire on a gang of armed raiders who attempted to rob a security van.

Yesterday, five men appeared amid tight security on firearms charges and were remanded on custody until May 19th.

They are Mr Pascal Burke (34), of Marrowbone Lane; Mr Stephen Carney (22), of Dolphin House; Mr Saoirse Breatnach (19), of Cypress Court, Ballybrack; Mr Philip Forsythe (24), of Rollins Villas, Sallynoggin; and Mr Danny McAllister (43), of Cromlech Fields, Ballybrack, all in Dublin.

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All five were charged with possession of an AKM assault rifle, a Mossberg 12 gauge, pump-action shotgun and a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver with intent to endanger life at Cullenmore, Ashford, last Friday. They were also charged with having the guns with intent to commit a robbery on the same date.

Det Supt Martin Callanan, of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, gave evidence of arresting Mr McAllister and Mr Carney at Bray Garda Station on Sunday under the 1997 Criminal Law Act.

Det Insp John O'Mahony, of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said he arrested Mr Forsythe, Mr Burke and Mr Breatnach at Shankill Garda Station on Sunday.

All five were remanded in custody until May 19th.