Gardai found Semtex and ammunition, court hears

Gardai discovered Semtex explosives and assorted ammunition when they raided a house in Limerick city last November, the Special Criminal Court was told today.

Prosecuting counsel Mr Shane Murphy SC said that detectives who raided the house in the Garryowen area of Limerick discovered a hand grenade in a bag in the sitting room and packages containing the explosive Semtex and ammunition.

It was the opening day of the trial of James Bullman (aged 38) of St Ita St, St Mary's Park Limerick who has denied the unlawful possession of 283 rounds of assorted ammunition, a smoke hand grenade and the explosive substance PETN and RDX (Semtex) at Sarsfield Court, Garryowen, Limerick on November 6th last year.

Opening the prosecution case Mr Murphy said that Superintendent Gerard Mahon issued a search warrant after he was informed by Detective Sergeant Dan Haugh that he had confidential information that ammunition and explosives could be found at a house at Sarsfield Court.

Detective Sergeant Haugh and other detectives went to the house and gained entry and they found the accused Bullman in a sitting room with the owner of the house.

The gardai observed Bullman, who had a multi-coloured military-style bag in front of him, throw it on the floor away from him.

Gardai also saw a blue plastic bag on the sitting room floor and in the bag they could see a hand grenade.

The gardai searched the house and discovered a number of packages which contained the explosive substance PETN and RDX and ammunition.

Bullman was arrested and during 12 interviews at Henry St Garda Station he repeatedly denied any involvement in the unlawful possession of the items.

Mr Murphy said that a forensic examination was carried out of the house and a fingerprint was found on a brown paper bag which matched Bullman's fingerprint.

Mr Murphy said that the DPP accepted that the accused, while detained at Henry St, denied any involvement and claimed that he was visiting the house to bring his friend tobacco and that he said he had only been in the house ten minutes before gardai arrived.

The trial is continuing.