Former soldier convicted of arms charges

A former Irish soldier was convicted of having ammunition and a smoke hand grenade at a house in Limerick last year by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

James Bullman (aged 38), a chef, of St Ita St, St Mary's Park Limerick was convicted of the unlawful possession of ammunition and a smoke hand grenade at Sarsfield Court, Garryowen, Limerick on November 6 last year.

He was cleared of another charge of the unlawful possession of the explosives PETN and RDX on the same date.

Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, presiding, said the court accepted garda evidence that Bullman was seen standing up and dropping a hold all bag in which gardai recovered ammunition when armed detectives raided the house at Sarsfield Court.

He said the court did not draw an inference of guilt concerning Bullman's possession of other ammunition which was found in a plastic shopping bag in the sitting room.

The judge said the court also accepted that the smoke hand grenade with the letters GREN was visible in a bag on the floor and that taking into account Bullman's military experience, the court was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the hand grenade was recognizable by Bullman for what it was and this was sufficient for the court to infer knowledge and control.

Mr Justice Finnegan said that Bullman's explanation for the presence of his fingerprint on a brown paper bag containing the explosive substance PETN and RDX and evidence that there were no traces of the explosives on his clothing must raise a doubt as to whether he was in contact with the explosives on the day in question and the court acquitted him of that charge.

Bullman told the court in evidence that he often brought cold meat to the owner of the house in brown paper bags.

The court also heard that Bullman was in the Irish Army for seven years.

Bullman had denied knowing there was ammunition or explosives in the house and had told the court that he was delivering tobacco to the occupier of the house when gardai raided it.

The court remanded Bullman in custody for sentencing on May 20.