TWO MEN were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court yesterday of having bomb-making equipment at a Dublin apartment last year.
Cormac Fitzpatrick (23) of Cathedral Walk, Monaghan, Co Monaghan and Terry McConnell (28) of Tullymore Gardens, Andersonstown, Belfast were found guilty of unlawfully possessing explosive materials at an apartment in The Crescent, Park West Pointe, Clondalkin, Dublin on September 9th, 2008. Both men will be sentenced next month.
The 13-day trial heard how enough explosive material to fully construct four pipe bombs was discovered when members of the special detective unit raided the one-bedroom flat in the early hours of September 9th, 2008.
Among the bomb-making paraphernalia found in the kitchen were four black pieces of steel piping, nails, bulbs, batteries, surgical gloves and hundreds of grams of propellant powder.
Seven travel alarm clocks were also discovered, several of which were being adapted to act as timers.
The trial heard how, moments after armed detectives forced their way into the apartment, two men were observed standing in the bathroom, wearing latex gloves.
They were identified to the court as the two accused, Cormac Fitzpatrick and Terry McConnell.
Delivering the guilty verdict today Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, rejected McConnell’s “innocent explanation” for being at the flat and held that Fitzpatrick’s account of why he was there was “beyond belief”.
Both men were remanded in custody for sentencing on January 25th.
The Special Criminal Court is due to move to the new Criminal Courts of Justice at Parkgate Street next month after sitting for almost 38 years at the historic Green Street court.
The Green Street court was opened in January 1797 and among its first trials were those of leaders of the United Irishmen for high treason in 1798 and Robert Emmet, who made his famous speech from the dock in the court before his execution in 1803.
The Special Criminal Court, which was set up in May 1972 because of the Troubles, has sat since then in Green Street. The court has convicted thousands of Provisional IRA, INLA, Real IRA and Continuity IRA members, as well as members of criminal gangs.