A DUBLIN civil engineer has been refused bail in the High Court on charges relating to the alleged unlawful possession of explosives and having them with intent to endanger life or property.
Det Supt Basil Walsh told Mrs Justice McGuinness that Mr Brian McNally (55), of Knocksinna Park, Fox rock, was "caught red handed" in an out house on a Co Laois farm where raiding gardai uncovered mortar bombs, arms and explosives.
Det Supt Walsh said three men in the outhouse at the farm of Mr Thomas Conroy, Ballyfarrel, Clonaslea, refused to come out when told to by gardai. When gardai broke down the door they found Mr McNally and two other men, one of whom had a loaded pistol.
He told Mr Desmond Dockery, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, that in a follow up search gardai found a bunker under the farmhouse. It contained explosives and weapons.
"I believe that because of the seriousness of the charge, the likelihood of a lengthy sentence if convicted, the nature and strength of the evidence and the fact that he was caught red handed, he will fail to turn up for his trial if granted bail." Det Supt Walsh said.
Mr Eamonn Leahy, counsel for Mr McNally, said his client ran his own engineering business which employed his wife and his son. He had lived in Foxrock for the last 12 years.
Mr Leahy said Mr McNally, although charged with an undoubtedly serious criminal offence, had an absolutely clear record and was willing to surrender his passport and report to any Garda station as frequently as the court desired.
He said two independent sureties were willing to go bail for him in sums of £10,000 and gardai had no objections as to their character or their sufficiency in the amounts of bail.
Mr Dockery said bail had previously been refused in the case by the Special Criminal Court, and two other judges had refused bail appeals to the High Court by two of Mr McNally's co-accused.