Explosives charges against a Dublin man were dropped at the Special Criminal Court yesterday, after the court ruled that alleged statements made by him could not be admitted in evidence.
After the ruling Mr Paul O'Higgins SC, prosecuting, said there was no other evidence against Mr Michael Blount and entered a nolle prosequi on the charges against him.
Mr Justice Morris, presiding, said the court was not satisfied that the alleged statements made by Mr Blount while in custody at Santry Garda station were made voluntarily.
Mr Blount (49), of Bath Road, Balbriggan, had pleaded not guilty to having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to endanger life at West Pier, Howth, Co Dublin, on January 5th last year. He also denied having an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances on the same date.
The court has heard that gardai found 28 bags of crushed fertiliser and five bags of the fertiliser in granule form at a disused shop in Howth and another bag of fertiliser at an unoccupied house in Bettystown, Co Meath. The prosecution has claimed that the fertiliser was intended for use in an explosive mixture.
The court will rule on the admissibility of alleged statements made by three other accused on April 13th. They have all pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life on January 5th last year.
Mr Justice Morris said Mr Blount was interviewed 12 times at Santry Garda station on January 8th and 9th last year. He was examined by a doctor on January 8th, who gave him an antibiotic but no analgesic for headaches. Mr Blount had a history of sinusitis and depression, complained to gardai on several occasions of severe headaches and on one occasion said: "My head is going to explode". The judge said that the doctor examined Mr Blount again on January 9th and he again complained of headaches and also that gardai had assaulted him.
The court was satisfied that neither the interviewing gardai or the sergeant in charge had inquired as to his medical condition and the interviewing gardai thought the complaints were a ruse. The court could not be satisfied that Mr Blount was in a fit condition to be interviewed.
The trial resumes on April 13th.