Submachine gun found in Real IRA investigation, court hears

Gardaí found a submachine gun and ammunition at a house in west Dublin during investigations into links between the Real IRA and Dublin criminals, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The court was told that two men were arrested at a house at Westbourne Avenue, Clondalkin after the discovery of the gun and ammunition and were later charged with IRA membership.

Declan Geraghty (aged 29), Downpatrick Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 and Stephen O’ Shaughnessy (aged 31) of Avonbeg Gardens,Tallaght, Dublin 24, have both pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on September 25, 2010.

Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O’ Sullivan, Special Detective Unit, told the court that he was investigating the activities of dissident republicans, the Real IRA, and their connections with criminal activity in south west Dublin.

He said he received confidential information that pipe bombs or firearms would be found at an address in Clondalkin and he issued a search warrant for the address and briefed Detective Sergeant Donal Prenty.

Opening the prosecution case, Mr Paul Greene SC, said that when detectives from the Special Detective Unit went to the house at Westbourne Ave, they discovered a submachine, ammunition and a box of latex gloves in a green bag under a bed in a downstairs bedroom.

Both accused were observed arriving at the house earlier and when gardaí raided the house they were found in the bedroom.

Mr Greene said the prosecution case against the two accused would be the circumstances of their arrest, the results of interviews with gardaí after their arrest and the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintednent Kevin Donohue that the two were members of an illegal organisation.

Mr Bernard Condon SC, for Geraghty, told the court that he intended to challenge the legality of the search of the house on Westbourne Ave and the admissibility of the fruits of the search.

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, is continuing.