TWENTY six guns found by Special Branch detectives in two vehicles near Balbriggan, Co Dublin, were not ready to be used, a ballistics expert told the Special Criminal Court yesterday.
Det Garda William Brennan said that four assault rifles, two sub machine guns and 20 pistols were sealed and heavily packed in grease and would have had to be cleaned before use.
Det Garda Brennan said the 2,500 rounds of ammunition found by gardai could only have been used in the pistols.
The court has heard the arms seizure followed a surveillance operation after gardai had received confidential information about arms being moved.
Four men were arrested after armed Special Branch detectives surrounded a car and van stopped about a mile from Balbriggan.
Two of the men are on trial on charges connected with the arms seizure.
Mr Sean Braniff (41), of Juniper Court, Twinbrook, Belfast, and Mr Anthony Patrick Gorman (25), of Dalton Road, Armagh City, deny having two FN FAL automatic rifles, two Kalashnikov rifles, two US M3 sub machine guns and 20 Browning pistols and 2,500 rounds of ammunition at Blackhall, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, with intent to endanger life on April 4th last year.
Mr Gorman pleaded guilty to having the guns and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, but Mr Braniff pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Det Garda Brennan said the two FN rifles had been previously used but had been cleaned and were in excellent condition. He said the two Kalashnikov rifles were manufactured in Hungary and had no magazines. They had previously been used and were cleaned and in excellent condition.
The two sub machine guns were made in the US and were also heavily packed in grease and could not be discharged. The 20 Browning pistols were brand new and were in individual boxes.
Det Garda Brennan said the serial numbers on all 26 guns had been removed. He agreed under cross examination by Mr Braniff's counsel, Mr Tony Cinnamond QC, that none of the weapons could have been fired in the condition in which they had been found.
Sgt Gerard Russell told the court that he saw Mr Gorman dropping a bag and jumping across a wall after detectives identified themselves. He shouted "armed gardai, stop" and Mr Gorman dropped to his knees and put his hands in the air. He was then searched and arrested. The trial continues today.