Three charged with explosives offences

Three men were charged with ammunition and explosives offences at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today, following a Garda Special Branch investigation into the activities of dissident republicans.

They were Francis McGeown (aged 63), of Cedarwood Park, Cox’s Demesne, Dundalk; Ciarán Dunne (aged 22), of Elmbrook Ave, Lucan , Co Dublin; and Pascal Burke (aged 41), of Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8.

McGeown was charged with the unlawful possession of 50 rounds of .38 special ammunition, 50 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition and an explosive substance – black powder consisting of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur - at Heynestown, Dundalk, Co Louth, on Friday.

Dunne and Burke were each charged with the unlawful possession of ammunition and explosive substance at Smithstown, Julianstown, Co Meath, on the same date.

The court heard that McGeown was arrested in Dundalk and that Dunne and Burke were arrested in Dublin on Friday by members of the Special Detective Unit.

Detective Chief Superintendent Phil Kelly, the head of the Special Detective Unit, told the court that he signed orders extending the detention of Dunne and Burke.

He said that items of an explosive nature were found during a search of a pub at Hill St in Dublin, that a vehicle was seized and that the results of a technical examination of these were still awaited when he signed the orders.

The court remanded all three men in custody until next Friday, when bail applications are expected to be made.