Courts / Dublin / Report
TNT, grenade accused pleads guilty to new charge
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John O'Brien, 56, of North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to a new charge of assisting an unlawful organisation with an explosive. The charge, under section 21A of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and section 49 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, alleges that on 2 June 2017 he knowingly rendered assistance to an unlawful organisation in furtherance of an unlawful object, namely possession of an explosive substance that was not held for a lawful purpose. O'Brien had previously been charged in December 2017 with possession of ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, recorded his guilty plea and remanded him on continuing bail until 29 April, when sentencing will occur.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: TNT, grenade accused pleads guilty to new charge. Charges or matters: knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, in the furtherance of an unlawful object, to wit, possession of an explosive substance under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that it was not in its possession for a lawful object, at his home address on June 2 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 2 2017 Incident
- December 2017 Incident
- June 2nd, 2017 Incident
- April 29 Adjournment
- 2019-04-09 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, in the furtherance of an unlawful object, to wit, possession of an explosive substance under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that it was not in its possession for a lawful object, at his home address on June 2 2017 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded O'Brien on continuing bail until April 29, when he will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded O'Brien on continuing bail until April 29, when he will be sentenced.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request