Courts / Longford / Report

Irish-language trial hears of phone allegedly used to make threats

Date
2016-10-07

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Longford

Summary

A 65-year-old man from Drumlish in County Longford has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false bomb threat reports during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Ireland in May 2011. Donal Billings faces four counts under the Criminal Law Act relating to alleged threats made on three separate dates, and one count of unlawful possession of an explosive substance. The Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence concerning a mobile phone number allegedly used to make calls to Longford garda station threatening attacks on locations including Dublin Castle and Cork Airport. An O2 shop employee testified that a customer purchased a SIM card on 16 May using the disputed phone number, providing the name Paul Brennan. CCTV footage from the shopping centre was examined by gardaí to track the individual's movements. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Irish-language trial hears of phone allegedly used to make threats. Charges or matters: the unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011; each of the five charges. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

May 16th, 2011 Incident
May 18th Incident
May 20th Incident
May 2011 Other
May 16th Hearing Or Sentence
May 17th, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
2016-10-07 Publication

Case subjects

County Longford

Accused

Charges: the unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011; each of the five charges (Alleged Or Contested)

Donal Billings

Accused

Charges: the unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011; each of the five charges (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty