Ex-councillor and father charged

A former Sinn Féin councillor and his father, appearing at an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court last evening, have been charged with firearms offences and intent to commit false imprisonment.

Jonathan Dowdall, aged 37, and Patrick Dowdall, aged 59, were arrested yesterday by members of the Special Detective Unit.

Jonathan Dowdall, with an address at Navan Rd, Dublin 7, and Patrick Dowdall, with the same address, were both charged with possession of what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun and a .44-calibre Magnum revolver at their home address on January 15, 2015.

Both men were also charged with the intent to commit the offence of false imprisonment of one Alexander Hurley, on the same date.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the Special Criminal Court with Judge Flann Brennan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded both men in custody until Friday morning, May 27, when bail applications are expected to be made.

An order was made that both accused be charged and tried before Special Criminal Court 1.