Three men plead not guilty to explosives charges

Explosive materials were discovered by Gardai who raided a Dublin apartment as part of a surveillance operation in Clondalkin, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Three men in their 20s, arrested in connection with the investigation, are accused of unlawfully possessing explosive materials at an apartment in The Crescent, Park West Pointe, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on September 9, 2008.

Gareth Byrne (aged 27) of Park Crescent, Kimmage, Dublin 12, Cormac Fitzpatrick (aged 23) of Cathedral Walk, Monaghan, Co Monaghan and Terry McConnell (aged 28) of Tullymore Gardens, Andersontown, Belfast have all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the opening day of their trial today, prosecution counsel Paul Greene SC, said the court will hear that two of the accused, Terry McConnell and Cormac Fitzpatrick were among four people arrested inside the apartment after a team of 12 gardaí entered and searched the property in the early hours of September 9, 2008.

A total of 620 grams of propellant powder, pieces of steel piping, bulbs, batteries, several travel alarm clocks and nails were among the items seized.

The court today heard that Mr McConnell and Mr Fitzpatrick were both observed, by Garda Thomas Mannox, in the bathroom of the apartment wearing white, rubber gloves.

Paul Greene SC, said the court will also hear how the third defendant, Gareth Byrne, was arrested by officers that same morning after they approached an Opel Vetra car which was parked in a car park adjacent to the apartment complex.

A walkie-talkie, tuned to the same frequency as one found inside the apartment, was discovered in the car, along with a mobile phone.

The prosecution said it was the State’s contention that a joint enterprise was in place concerning the making of “improvised explosive devices”.

The trial continues tomorrow.