Two men charged with possessing explosives for 'terrorist attack on behalf of right-wing extremists'

The court also heard details of a video found which contained what appeared to be a practice of a statement that would be released subsequent to a successful attack on a Galway mosque

Garrett Pollock (left) with an address at Kilhorne Green, Annalong, Co Down' at Portlaoise District court this afternoon where he and co-accused Karolis Peckauskas of Newfoundwell Rd, Drogheda, Co Louth, appeared facing a charge related to the alleged possession of explosives at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, and one of possessing explosives at an address on Kilhorne, Green. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin

Two men have appeared in court charged with the possession of explosives after being arrested during a cross-border antiterrorism operation.

The court was told the charges arise from a garda investigation into an alleged terrorist attack in the planning by a right-wing extremist group. It also heard details of a video found which contained what appeared to be a practice of a statement that would be released subsequent to a successful attack to be carried out on a Galway mosque. 

Karolis Peckauskas, aged 38, of Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda and Garrett Pollock, aged 35, from Kilhorne Green, Annalong, Co. Down, appeared before Judge Andrew Cody at Portlaoise District Court.

Detective Declan O’Connor from the Special Detective Unit said Mr Pollock made no reply when charged and cautioned.

He is charged with one count of possessing explosives at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, on November 5 and one count of possessing explosives at an address at Kilhorne Green, Co Down, on November 6. The court was told the search of Mr Pollock’s home was carried out by the PSNI following a request from gardaí.

Det. O’Connor alleged that on a search at Mr Pollock's address “three externally threaded metal pipes, hexagonal metal end caps and lengths of green firework fuse” were found which the detective described as “the components of three pipe bomb-type improvised explosive devices”. 

He also alleged that the accused possessed “four incendiary type improvised explosive devices with white dish cloth wicks”.

Det. O’Connor also alleged that Mr Pollock while in O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, on November 4 had in his possession “four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide….under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that you did not have it in your possession for a lawful object”.

Detective Garda Joe Fahy from the Laois Drugs Unit said Mr Peckauskas said: "I do not understand" when charged and cautioned. Mr Peckauskas was charged with knowingly having in “his possession an explosive substance” at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise.

The court heard that on November 5 at O’Moore Place, Mr Peckauskas allegedly had four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide “under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he did not have it in your possession for a lawful object”.

Bail application

Judge Cody remanded Mr Peckauskas in custody to appear before the court by video link on November 13. The court was told Mr Pollock was making an application for bail.

Opposing the application Det. O’Connor told the court it was alleged Mr Pollock was “planning a terrorist attack on behalf of a right-wing extremist group”.

He said a video discovered on a device examined as part of the investigation captured four masked men during the reading of a statement outlining their intentions to “take violent action” and that Mr Pollock allegedly admitted he had “created or produced” a document recovered which was described as a “manifesto” for the right-wing extremist group.

In making his decision on whether to grant bail Judge Cody viewed the video.

“They are all wearing balaclavas although two of them remove their balaclavas towards the end of the video and another person, who it is alleged is the accused, has the balaclava loose around his eyes," the judge said.

“It is apparent that the video is a practice of a statement being released subsequent to a successful terrorist attack. Two of the participants, including the gentleman detective garda O’Connor believes to be the accused, reads a prepared statement.

“In this statement which is addressed to all citizens in the north and south of Ireland they say that they are taking a moment to speak honestly and directly recognising that everyone in the country has had enough of the poor treatment particularly children, women and the elderly who have been left homeless, starving, cold and under threat due to the number of migrants that have been brought into the country by our government. 

"They describe this as a threat to our sovereignty and could potentially be a hostile takeover.

He said they then say that they accept responsibility for the actions that has resulted in the destruction of the first mosque that was introduced in Ireland in County Galway. 

The judge said:

They say that they accept that this would have caused a lot of hurt, disappointment and destruction for foreign migrants both the legal and illegal in the community, that they do not care. 

"They say that this will not be their last attack. They describe their philosophy as an eye for an eye.

“They say they intend to target Ipas centres, mosques and hotels housing migrants and that they would take this as far as necessary to achieve their goals and call on others to join them,” said Judge Cody.

He went on to deny the bail request and remanded Mr Pollock in custody to attend the November 13 sitting of Portlaoise District Court by video link.