Four accused of possessing equipment to manufacture counterfeit money

Four men accused of possessing equipment for printing counterfeit money are to face a non-jury trial at the Special Criminal Court.

Anthony Sloan (aged 57), of Ard na Mara, Blackrock, Co. Louth, Liam Delaney (aged 41), from the Green Road, Borris-in-Ossary Co Laois, Kevin Flanagan (aged 42), of Main Street, Borris-in-Ossary and Andrew Poole (aged 43), from Pike of Rushall, Portlaoise, Co Laois were arrested on July 11 last by detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.

They were charged the following day at Dublin District Court with two counts under Section 36 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

The four men are each accused of possessing equipment to manufacture counterfeit currency, at Ballybrophy, Borris-in-Ossary, Co Laois, on May 31 last year.

At their second appearance today Judge Timothy Lucey heard that the DPP had directed that “the ordinary courts are not adequate in relation to the trial”.

Books of evidence were served on the four defendants and Judge Lucey ordered their return for trial to the Special Criminal Court.

The four men were notified that if they intended to rely on alibis in their defence they must notify the State within 14 days.

Bail was granted to Mr Sloan in his own bond of €250. The co-defendants were remanded on €250 bail with independent sureties in the sum of €10,000.