Detectives found stun gun during raid, court hears

A stun gun was found in a room booked under a false name at a Co Meath hotel when Special Branch detectives raided the room, the Special Criminal Court was told today.

Detective Chief Superintendent Basil Walsh said that authorized the continued detention of Sean Mulligan after he was told that by one of his officers that it was necessary to allow further questioning of Mulligan.

The Chief Superintendent said he was told by Detective Superintendent Peter Maguire that Mulligan had repeatedly failed to answer material questions while in custody at Santry Garda station.

Superintendent Maguire also told him that he was anxious to continue questioning Mulligan to ascertain why he was at a meeting in a room at the Neptune Beach Hotel where a stun gun was found. The room had been booked under a false name and address, he added.

Chief Superintendent Walsh said that Superintendent Maguire also told him that incriminating documents had been found in a search of Mulligan's house in March, 2001.

The Chief Superintendent said that he signed an order extending Mulligan's detention for a further twenty four hours and he said that at the time he suspected that Mulligan was a member of an unlawful organisation.

The court has been told that Mulligan and three other men were arrested when Special Branch detectives raided a room at the Neptune Beach Hotel in Bettystown, Co Meath on July 29, 2001.

Sean Mulligan (aged 52), of Carnalughogue, Louth village has pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 29 last year.

The trial continues tomorrow.