Samuel Devlin remanded in explosive substance trial

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Samuel Devlin, 55, was remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court pending judgment scheduled for 1 March 2016.

He is charged with unlawful possession of the explosive substance PETN at Golf Suite, Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, Co Dublin, on 11 May 2014. He has pleaded not guilty.

The three-judge, non-jury court heard closing submissions from the prosecution and defence on 18 February 2016. Mr Justice Paul Butler presided with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge William Hamill. The proceedings were reported on 18 February 2016.

Prosecuting counsel Tara Burns SC said fingerprint evidence from the laptop and a DNA match from its plug connected Mr Devlin to the laptop bag containing detonating cord. She said the cord contained PETN and argued that he had the necessary knowledge and control of the substance.

Bernard Condon SC, defending, said the prosecution had failed to prove knowledge and control. He said there was no evidence of Mr Devlin's DNA on the detonating cord. He also argued that the prosecution had not established that Mr Devlin knew of the substance's existence or qualities, or had complete physical control over it.