Weapons and ammunition found in a car in Northern Ireland were not intended to kill anybody, a court heard today.
They were to be buried when police uncovered the cache in Keady, south Armagh, near the border, three suspects charged with terrorism offences told police.
Brian Anthony Sheridan (34) from Avonmore, Blackwatertown, Co Armagh; Brian Francis Cavlan (35) from Circular Road, Dungannon; and Dominic Dines (39) from Bree, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, appeared at Newry Magistrates’ Court today.
Detective Sergeant Ronnie Gibson told the court he could connect the accused to the charges.
He said Dines replied when charged that “he was told to bury the weapons found in the car that he was driving and he had no intent to use them at any time to shoot or kill anybody, carry out any robbery or any show of strength”.
The other defendants made similar statements. They made no reply, refusing to identify themselves, to a charge of possession of firearms and two counts of possession of articles for use in terrorism on Friday last.
At the time police said it was linked to suspected dissident republican activity after a joint operation with gardaí. The detective confirmed a shovel was found in the Citroen car stopped by police that appeared to have been used.
The accused were dressed casually in T-shirts and jeans. The court was full of police officers in body armour and relatives of the defendants.
At one point one of the suspects smiled across at the public gallery. They sat in silence as the court proceedings continued.
Magistrate Paul Copeland remanded the three in custody to reappear via videolink at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on May 17.
PA