Detective says fingerprint matched accused

A fingerprint expert told the Special Criminal Court today that a fingermark on a paper bag found in a house in Limerick where gardaí discovered ammunition and explosives matched the fingerprint of the accused man.

Detective Garda Michael Wall said he was "satisfied beyond any doubt" that the fingermark found on the brown paper bag matched the impression of the left forefinger of James Bullman.

It was the fourth 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 6 last year.

The court has heard that Bullman denied any involvement in the possession of the ammunition and explosives to gardaí and claimed that he had been bringing tobacco to a friend when he was arrested.

Detective Garda Wall, of the Garda Fingerprints Section, said that he found 12 characteristics that were the same on the fingermark taken from the paper bag and the fingerprint taken from Bullman in Henry St Garda Station on November 7 last year.

The Detective Garda said this left him in "no doubt" about the identification of the fingermark found on the brown paper bag.

The court has been told that gardaí who raided the bungalow at Sarsfield Court in Limerick found Bullman and the bungalow's owner in the sitting room.

Gardaí also recovered a hand grenade in a plastic bag in the room, and two bags containing ammunition and explosives in the house.

Defence counsel Mr Anthony Sammon SC applied to the court for a direction to acquit on the grounds that there was no case to answer when the prosecution case closed.

The trial is continuing.