Two men arrested near the Border after a major explosives find on Saturday claimed they were assaulted by gardai, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard yesterday.
The two Co Louth cousins appeared amid tight security at the court yesterday where they faced explosives charges. Mr Kieran McDonagh (36), of Moorland Road, Lisdoo, Dundalk, and Mr Paddy McDonagh (35), of Naughton's Close, Hoey's Lane, Dundalk, were remanded in custody until June 11th.
They were each charged with possession of 938 lb of improvised explosive mixture, a booster tube and detonating cord with intent to endanger life at Carrickaneena, Co Louth, last Saturday.
The men were also charged with possession of the explosives in suspicious circumstances on the same date.
Mr Paddy McDonagh appeared in court with a black eye and bruises on his face.
When questioned by defence counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins, about the injuries to Mr McDonagh, Det Supt Michael Finnegan said he understood there was a violent struggle when the men were detained and both men had resisted arrest and tried to flee across the Border.
Det Supt Michael Finnegan said both men were initially detained by members of the Emergency Response Unit at 5.05 p.m. on Saturday.
He said three carloads of ERU members were involved and he was aware that two sergeants were present.
The Garda officer said that from his inquiries he had been told that any injuries that might have occurred had happened at the scene where the men were detained.
"When the two of them were brought from the cars there was violent resistance to arrest. Both men struggled and tried to get across the Border on foot. There was a fairly big struggle," he said.
Det Supt Finnegan said both men were arrested by Dundalk detectives at 5.30 p.m. and when they were brought to Dundalk Garda station they requested a doctor, who arrived at the Garda station and examined both men.
Cross-examined by Mr Stephen McCann, for Mr Kieran McDonagh, Det Supt Finnegan said both men had complained that they were assaulted by gardai.
Mr McCann said his client complained that gardai assaulted him and called both men "fat bastards" and "stupid c...s."
Both men were remanded in custody until June 11th.