Three men who appeared before a special court sitting in Limerick yesterday were members of a criminal gang preparing to carry out an armed robbery, gardaí have alleged.
Limerick District Court heard that all three were arrested after they were intercepted by gardaí in a van at Drumline, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, at around 9.30am on Friday.
Appearing before Judge Terence Finn were John Murphy (46), Ballina, Killaloe, Co Tipperary; Cathal O'Neill (38), William Street, Limerick, and Michael Gerard Heelan (45), Boherbee, Mallow, Co Cork.
All three were charged with possession of a Magnum semi-automatic pistol, a sawn-off shotgun, and ammunition at Drumline, Newmarket-on-Fergus, on Friday last.
Giving evidence of arrest, charge and caution, gardaí told the court that John Murphy replied "nothing to say" when he was charged at Shannon Garda station.
Cathal O'Neill replied: "I'm absolutely innocent" when he was charged with the same offences, the court heard.
Michael Gerard Heelan replied when charged: "It was in the van, I hadn't it on my hand. I didn't possess the gun - I was only the driver. I had no cartridges with me or no gun."
Opposing bail, Insp Tom Kennedy said it would be alleged the accused were travelling in a stolen van with false licence plates.
"They were in a state of dress which indicated that they were actively involved in carrying out an armed robbery or an attack on a person," he said.
It was further alleged that a balaclava, cable ties, and a walkie talkie were also uncovered in the van, and that all three accused were wearing gloves when they were arrested by gardaí.
Insp Kennedy said the charges were very serious, and that gardaí feared that if they were granted bail the accused might not come forward to answer the charges.
However, it was conceded the question of witness intimidation did not arise, and the addresses of all three accused had been established before the court.
Mr Murphy was involved in a stable relationship and was living in Ballina. Mr O'Neill worked in his mother's grocery shop in Limerick while Mr Heelan's wife and children had gone to a match yesterday because "they couldn't take the pressure", the court heard.
Judge Finn said the accused were entitled to be afforded bail subject to certain conditions.
He remanded all three in custody with consent to bail on their own bond of €5,000 each and an independent surety of €18,000 each to appear again before Ennis District Court at 10.30am on Friday.