Three on trial after explosives find

The Special Criminal Court has begun the trial of three men arrested after gardai discovered a large quantity of explosives in a disused fish shop in North Dublin.

One of the accused is the public officer for the 32-County Sovereignty Committee.

The three are 55-year-old Joseph Dillon from Greenlawns, Skerries in Dublin, who is PRO of the 32-County Sovereignty Committee.

45-year-old Eamonn Flanagan, a native of Co Tyrone with an address at the Square, Skerries, and 69-year-old Seamus McLoughlin of Balkill Park, Howth, have all denied the charges against them.

Mr Dillon has pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or enable another to do so at Bettystown on January 5 1998.

The other two face a similar charge relating to West Pier, Howth on January 5 1998.

The explosives were found in bags at the disused fish shop Molly Malone’s on Howth Pier.