Courts / Longford / Report
Gardaí found bomb aboard Dublin-bound bus on eve of Queen's visit
Summary
A Special Criminal Court trial has heard that gardaí discovered an improvised explosive device on a passenger bus bound for Dublin on the eve of a royal visit in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 65, of Drumlish, County Longford, is charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and with four offences of making false bomb reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976. The charges allege he made false reports claiming bombs were positioned at Busáras Dublin, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport between May 16th and 20th. Mr Billings has pleaded not guilty to all five charges. Garda evidence established that the device, located in a Tesco bag beneath a Corduff Travel bus at Straffan Road rail station in Maynooth, contained a two-litre bottle of flammable liquid, copper piping filled with explosive material, a mechanical timer, battery, and firework components. An Army Bomb Disposal Unit member disabled the device, confirming it possessed capability to cause serious injury. The trial continues.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gardaí found bomb aboard Dublin-bound bus on eve of Queen's visit. Charges or matters: each of the five charges. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- May 16th, 2011 Incident
- May 18th Hearing Or Sentence
- May 20th Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-10-05 Publication
Case subjects
Places mentioned
- The Special Criminal Court
- Special Criminal Court
- Straffan Road
Topics
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