Courts / Longford / Report

Explosives trial hears accused didn't like the Queen

Date
2016-10-14

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Longford

Summary

Donal Billings, aged 65, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded not guilty to five charges before the Special Criminal Court. He is accused of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and of making four false reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976 alleging bombs at multiple locations during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth in May 2011. An improvised explosive device was discovered on a Dublin-bound passenger bus during the visit. Sergeant Adrian O'Neill told the court that during gardai interviews, Mr Billings denied being at the railway station that evening, stating he had driven to Mullingar to meet his brother. He also disputed allegations regarding a SIM card found after his arrest in a Longford supermarket car park on May 20th, claiming he had found a purse containing it. The court heard Mr Billings expressed political objections to the British monarch's association with Northern Ireland security forces, though he denied involvement in any disruption. He characterised the allegations as "nonsense".

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Explosives trial hears accused didn't like the Queen. 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 Hearing Or Sentence
May 20th Incident
May 16th Incident
May 21st, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
May 21st Hearing Or Sentence
2016-10-14 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