Two men went on trial yesterday on a total of eight charges relating to an arms importation conspiracy last year involving a large quantity of weaponry.
The haul includes two RPG 7 rocket launchers, five AKM assault rifles, five AR15 semi-automatic assault rifles, two Uzi submachine guns and 10 semi-automatic pistols.
Glen Geasley (27), Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork, and Seán Callinan (21), Pearse Park, Tullamore, Co Offaly, are each charged with four similar but separate offences arising out of the Garda investigation into the arms importation operation.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before a jury of eight men and four women.
The trial is expected to last for three weeks.
Mr Geasley and Mr Callinan are separately charged with conspiring with others between February 22nd and April 20th, 2007, to commit crime, namely possessing the arms with intent to enable others to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
They are charged with conspiring with others between the same dates to commit crime, namely possessing the firearms in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that such possession was not for lawful purpose.
Mr Geasley and Mr Callinan are charged with conspiring with others between the same dates to commit crimes, namely possession of ammunition with intent to enable others to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
They are also charged with attempting between the same dates to have in their possession the firearms in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that such possession was not for a lawful purpose.
The consignment of semi-automatic pistols consisted of three 9mm Smith and Wessons, two 9mm Brownings and five 9mm Sig Saurs while the ammunition included 110 rounds of .23-inch bullets and 100 rounds of .762 x .39mm bullets.
Yesterday Judge Patrick Moran told the jury that some legal issues have to be discussed by the State and defence teams in their absence and he asked them to return again on Wednesday morning when it is expected the trial will be ready to proceed.