Courts / Dublin / Report

Man goes on trial accused of possessing explosives at well-known Dublin hotel

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 February 2016, Samuel Devlin, aged 55, was tried for unlawful possession of an explosive substance (PETN) and membership of an unlawful organisation, Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA). The prosecution alleged that Devlin was residing in a chalet at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, from 31 March 2014, using a fictitious booking name, Joe Murphy. On 9 May 2014, surveillance officers observed Devlin leave the hotel on a bicycle, deposit a bag in a bin on Adamstown Avenue, and the Gardaí recovered the bag containing plastic tubing, fibres, a J‑cloth, gloves and a newspaper. Forensic analysis linked the tubing to the bag and the detonator cord found in the chalet on 11 May 2014 to Devlin. Devlin pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing explosives. The trial, expected to last two weeks, continued with mapping evidence and legal arguments.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man goes on trial accused of possessing explosives at well-known Dublin hotel. Charges or matters: the unlawful possession of the explosive substance (PETN) at the same address on May 11, 2014. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 11, 2014 Incident
• March 31st, 2014 Incident
• May 9th, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 11th Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-02-03 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

Related court reports

• Solicitor agrees not to contact former tenant following High Court settlement
• No jail for Afghan man who laundered €45k while on social welfare
• 'I guess this is just my turn': visually impaired woman describes panic during false imprisonment by bogus taxi driver
• 'Nuisance' offender gets life for murdering 'drunken bowsie' after 'lewd requests'
• Parcel from South Africa contained €210k worth of cannabis
• Custody records of Ana Kriegel killer 'crucial to appeal', court told

Read the original CNI report