A 31-YEAR-OLD Co Kildare man was remanded in custody at a special court sitting in Galway yesterday evening, charged with endangering life by throwing an explosive device into an auctioneer’s office in Roscommon town last Sunday morning.
Trevor Owen, Fenview Heights, Newbridge, was brought under heavy Garda escort from Roscommon Garda station yesterday at 7.30pm to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court.
Mr Owen, who appeared in court flanked by a number of uniformed gardaí and plain clothes detectives, is charged that on October 18th last at Earley Property Partners, Stone Court, The Square, he maliciously caused an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, contrary to Section 2 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883, as amended by Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976.
Det Sgt John Costello of Roscommon Garda station gave evidence of charging the defendant at 6.30pm yesterday evening at the station. Mr Owen had replied “Nothing to say” when the charge was first put to him.
Insp Paul Cuttle said this was an offence under the Offences Against the State Act and that the DPP had stated it could be dealt with in the ordinary courts. He applied to have the accused remanded in custody to appear before Strokestown District Court next week.
Judge Geoffrey Browne remanded Mr Owen in custody to appear before Strokestown District Court on October 28 next.