Garda tells explosives trial of struggle

The public relations officer of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement struggled with armed detectives before he was arrested on …

The public relations officer of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement struggled with armed detectives before he was arrested on suspicion of having explosives, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday. Det Sgt Michael Larkin said that Mr Joseph Dillon was forced into the kitchen and hand-cuffed because he was "in a rage."

Detective Sergeant Larkin said that Dillon was handcuffed to restrain him because he was "particularly violent" after six gardai arrived with a search warrant at his home in Skerries, Co Dublin.

He was giving evidence on the fifth day of the trial of four men accused of having explosives last year. Mr Eamonn Flanagan (42), of The Square, Skerries, Mr Seamus Mc Loughlin (66), of Balkill Park, Howth and Mr Michael Blount(48), of Bath Road, Balbriggan have pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to do so at West Pier, Howth, Co Dublin on January 5th last year.

Mr Dillon (52), of Greenlawns, Skerries, has pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to do so at Windswept, Golf Links Road, Bettystown, Co Meath on January 5th last year.

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The men have pleaded not guilty to having an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances on the same date. Det Sgt Larkin told Mr Dillon's counsel, Mr John Phelan SC, that Dillon he initially refused to open the door when armed detectives called to his home at 7.08 a.m. on January 8th last year. He called out "armed gardaI" and told Mr Dillon that he was entitled to break the door down. He was told to "f*** off".

Mr Dillon opened the door at 7.22 a.m. and the gardai went in. Det Sgt Larkin denied that he had put the barrel of his gun through the letter box and said: "Open the f***ing door now, we are the gardai." He also denied that he had pushed the gun into Mr Dillon's stomach but admitted there was a struggle when gardai entered the house.

Det Sgt Larkin said he was aware that the Dillons had complained to the Garda Complaints Board but added that no breach of discipline had been recorded. Earlier, the court ruled that search warrants issued by Detective Chief Supt Basil Walsh relating to a disused fish shop on Howth pier and a premises at Bettystown, Co Meath were valid.

The court has heard that gardai found 33 bags containing fertiliser which the prosecution has claimed were intended for use in an explosives mixture at the disused fish shop Molly Malone's - on Howth pier.

The trial continues today.