Two in court on gun charges as part of dissident inquiry

Two men appeared before the non-jury Special Criminal Court this morning charged with the possession of two handguns in Dublin’s south inner city.

Patrick Kennedy (65) and Gary Yeung (31) were arrested by gardaí on Saturday afternoon on James Street in Dublin city centre as part of ongoing investigations in to the activities of dissident republicans in Dublin and Limerick.

The pair were both charged with the unlawful possession of a .455 Colt model “New Service” revolver and a .455 Calibre Webley Mark 6 revolver at James Street, Dublin 8 on September 14th, 2013.

Mr Yeung, with an address at Bawnmore View, Crossagalla, Limerick was also charged with the possession of one round of .22-250 calibre Sako make ammunition and one round of .357 Mag calibre CBC make ammunition at his home address on the same date.

Mr Kennedy, with an address at South Earl Street, Dublin 8 was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation within the State styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on September 14th, 2013.

Det Garda David Kiely told State Solicitor Michael O’Donovan he formally arrested Gary Yeung shortly after 10.00pm last night at Orchard Lane, Clondalkin.

He told Mr O'Donovan that at the time of the arrest he believed the accused man, who appeared before the court wearing a black zip-up top and jeans, had committed the offences with which he is charged.

Det Garda Kiely said that when he again met Mr Yeung in the precincts of the court this morning and cautioned him, the accused man replied he had “nothing to say”.

Det Sgt Padraig Boyce gave evidence to the court of the arrest and caution of Mr Kennedy, who appeared before the court wearing a grey jumper and blue shirt.

Counsel for Mr Yeung, Keith Spencer BL, told the court his client wished to make a bail application today.

However, Mr O’Donovan said gardaí would not be in a position to deal with a bail application today because, while there was no objection to bail in general, substantial sureties would be required and time would be needed to vet these sureties.

After consulting with his client, Mr Spencer said he would defer making the bail application.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Elizabeth Dunne, sitting with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Margaret Heneghan, remanded both men in custody to appear in court on Friday, September 20th, when it is anticipated applications for bail and legal aid will be made on behalf of both men.