THREE MEN charged with possession of what police said was a “substantial amount” of guns and ammunition in south Armagh have claimed the weapons were not for use against anyone.
Brian Anthony Sheridan (34), Avonmore, Blackwatertown, Co Armagh; Brian Francis Cavlan (35), Circular Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone; and Dominic Edward Dines, (39), from Bree, near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, appeared before Newry Magistrates Court yesterday charged with a series of offences.
Their Citroen car was stopped in Keady in south Armagh following a joint PSNI-Garda operation on Good Friday designed to counter dissident republican activity.
The charges against the men include possession of three rifles, two handguns and ammunition; preparation for committing acts of terrorism and possession of items likely to be of use to terrorists.
Det Sgt Ronnie Gibson from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Squad told the court he believed he could link the suspects to the charges.
However, the court also heard one of the accused denied preparing to do anything with the arms other than bury them.
Det Sgt Gibson confirmed that when charged Mr Dines said he was “told to bury the weapons found in the car that he was driving and he had no intent to use them at any time to shoot or kill anybody, carry out any robbery or any show of strength”.
The other suspects have made similar claims.
Under cross-examination the senior detective said a shovel had been found in the car with the suspects. The accused made no comment throughout the proceedings.
Nearly two dozen officers were in court, six of them in the dock with the suspects, and a heavy security presence ringed the courthouse. Magistrate Paul Copeland remanded the three in custody to reappear before the court via videolink on May 17th.