Dundalk man appears at Special Criminal Court

A Dundalk man who failed to turn up for his trial on explosive charges four years ago appeared at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Derek Brady was one of two men caught assembling a massive bomb in the border town in 1998.

He was due to stand trial in May 1999 but failed to appear in court, leading to the issue of a bench warrant for his arrest.

Mr Brady, aged 39, of Cedarwood Park, Cox’s Demense, Dundalk is charged with possession of 1,240 pounds of improvised explosive mixture.

He is also accused of having improvised detonating fuse, a timer power unit, an electrical detonator, two adapted beer kegs and two improvised booster tubes with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property at Cuchulainn Terrace, Dundalk on March 21, 1998.

He is further charged with possession of the explosive substances in suspicious circumstances on the same date.

Det Insp James Sheridan told the court that Mr Brady was arrested earlier today at Cedarwood Park, Dundalk and when cautioned made no reply to the charges.

Judge John O’Hagan, Presiding, remanded the accused in custody to appear before the court on May 20.