Seven men arrested at a suspected Continuity IRA training camp in the Comeragh Mountains last weekend were refused bail by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday. An eighth accused appeared in court but did not apply for bail.
The court heard that four firearms, ammunition, balaclavas and a makeshift firing range were found at the scene. One accused agreed in court that it was a training camp, but another claimed the men were stalking deer in preparation for the hunting season.
Det Supt Liam King, Waterford, told the court that on Sunday last, as a result of confidential information, Special Branch and local detectives placed a wooded area at Knockateduan, Ballymacarberry, Waterford, under surveillance.
They observed a cutaway oil barrel to which paper targets were attached with distances marked out with wooden pegs. Det Supt King said there was a command for firing, and this exercise continued for up to 2½ hours. Some accused appeared to have been standing guard or acting as look-outs. Two shotguns, two rifles, a quantity of ammunition and four balaclavas were recovered from the scene.
Opposing bail, the superintendent said the offences for which the accused were charged were serious, and it was his belief that if granted bail they might commit further crime.
He said he believed all eight men were attending a Continuity IRA training camp.
Six accused are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, within the State on August 3rd last, contrary to Section 21 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
They are: Mr Patrick Deery (52), of Woodhouse, Stradbally, Co Waterford; Mr Joseph Mooney (35), Ozzier Court, Co Waterford; Mr John O'Halloran (33), Ross Avenue, Mulgrave Street, Limerick; Mr Mark McMahon (35), Commodore Barry Park, Wexford; Mr Patrick Kelly (36), Belvedere Grove, Wexford; and Mr Brian Galvin (37), Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford. Mr Thomas Barry (20), Larchville, Lisduggan, Co Waterford, was charged with possession of a Baikal over-and-under shotgun for an unlawful purpose, contrary to Section 27a of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1964.
Mr Michael Leahy (22), McCarthyville, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, was charged with possession of a sawn-off single-barrel shotgun for an unlawful purpose, contrary to Section 27a of the same Act.
Seven of the accused gave evidence in which they denied the charge. Mr Mark McMahon agreed with Ms Tara Buckley that he admitted to gardaí that he was "attending a training camp".
Mr Joseph Mooney, however, told the court the men were deer-stalking in advance of the new hunting season. Asked if this necessitated wearing a balaclava, he replied he needed to cover up so the deer would not spot him.
Refusing bail, Judge J.B. O'Hagan said the court was satisfied that it was a training facility for an illegal organisation. All eight were remanded in continuing custody until October 7th.