Courts / Dublin / Report

Pair charged with having 4kg of TNT in Dublin city

Date
2017-12-08

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Two men, John O'Brien, 55, and Declan McDermott, were charged at the Special Criminal Court on 8 December 2017 with knowingly possessing four kilograms of TNT. O'Brien was accused of having ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at his North Great Clarence Street home on 2 June. McDermott was charged with the same items at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3, on the same date. Detective Garda Rory Geelon reported arresting O'Brien and presenting him to the court, where he read the charge sheet and O'Brien made no reply. Detective Garda Eamonn Hoey met McDermott, handed him the charge sheet, and after caution he also made no reply. The court remanded McDermott and a third co‑accused, Martin Manning, on continuing bail until 21 December, while O'Brien was remanded in custody until a bail application is expected next Thursday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pair charged with having 4kg of TNT in Dublin city. Charges or matters: knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at his home address on June 2nd this year; knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden St, Dublin 3, on the same date; membership of an unlawful organisation, to wit an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann otherwise the IRA within the State on June 2nd, 2017; knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3 on June 2nd, 2017. Procedural stage: trial

When:

June 2nd Incident
June 2nd, 2017 Incident
December 21st Adjournment
2017-12-08 Publication

Case subjects

Declan McDermott

Accused

Charges: knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden St, Dublin 3, on the same date; membership of an unlawful organisation, to wit an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann otherwise the IRA within the State on June 2nd, 2017; knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3 on June 2nd, 2017 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan, remanded Mr McDermott and Mr Manning on continuing bail until December 21st, when their case is listed for mention.

John O'Brien

Accused

Charges: knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at his home address on June 2nd this year; knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden St, Dublin 3, on the same date; membership of an unlawful organisation, to wit an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann otherwise the IRA within the State on June 2nd, 2017; knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3 on June 2nd, 2017 (Alleged Or Contested)

Martin Manning

Co Accused

Charges: knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3 on June 2nd, 2017 (Alleged Or Contested)