Defence calls for man's acquittal on explosives charge

A defence lawyer of one of two men accused of having a massive quantity of explosives near the border last year applied for a direction to acquit his client at the Special Criminal Court today.

Joseph Fee, aged 40, of Blackstaff, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, and Eamonn Matthews, aged 25, of Dublin Road, Killeen, Newry, Co Down have pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of an explosive substance - ammonium nitrate and sugar (ANS) - and having the explosive with intent to endanger life at Thornfield, Inniskeen, Co Louth on June 13, 2003.