A SENIOR Special Branch officer told a court yesterday that gardai are searching for bomb factories throughout the State after the discovery of a major bomb factory in Co Laois.
Det Supt Basil Walsh said that as a result of the find at Clonaslee last June he believed "there are other bomb factories throughout this country".
The superintendent told the Special Criminal Court that he believed Mr John Conaty would interfere with Garda inquiries into other bomb factories if granted bail.
He was opposing bail for Mr Conaty (35), Balbutcher Park, Ballymun, Dublin, who was arrested after the discovery of a bomb factory in Co Laois.
Mr Conaty and three other men are charged with having 16 improvised mortar bombs containing Semtex at Ballyfarrell, Clonaslee, Co Laois, on June 20th last with intent to endanger life and with unlawful possession of the mortar bombs.
Det Supt Walsh of the Special Detective Unit at Harcourt Square, Dublin, opposed bail for Mr Conaty.
He said that gardai who raided premises at Ballyfarrell found three men, including Mr Conaty, locked in an outhouse.
The men refused to come out and a Garda saw Mr Conaty with a gun.
Gardai forced open the door and the three men were apprehended. Mr Conaty was found to have a semi-automatic pistol in his waistband.
Gardai found 16 mortar bombs containing a total of 5 kg of Semtex and a large quantity of bomb making equipment, including 36 timing units, in the outhouse.
The following day, gardai discovered an underground bunker where they found 30 kg of Semtex, commercial explosives, a large quantity of mortar parts, a submachine gun and pistol.
Mr Conaty refused to give his name to gardai and refused to cooperate.
The superintendent said he believed that because of the seriousness of the charges, the nature of the evidence and the fact that Mr Conaty was caught red handed, he would not turn up for his trial if given bail.
Mr Justice Robert Barr, presiding, said the court accepted Det Supt Walsh's evidence that there was a likelihood that the defendant would not stand trial if given bail.
Mr Conaty was refused bail and remanded in custody.