Two men have been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of having bomb-making equipment at a Dublin apartment last year.
Cormac Fitzpatrick (23) of Cathedral Walk, Monaghan, Co Monaghan and Terry McConnell (28) of Tullymore Gardens, Andersontown, Belfast were found guilty of unlawfully possessing explosive materials at an apartment in The Crescent, Park West Pointe, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on September 9th, 2008.
Both men will be sentenced next month.
The thirteen-day trial heard how enough explosive material, to fully construct four pipe bombs, was discovered when members of the Special Detective Unit raided the one-bedroom flat in the early hours of September 9th, 2008.
Among the bomb-making paraphernalia found in the kitchen were four black pieces of steel piping, nails, bulbs, batteries, surgical gloves and hundreds of grams of propellant powder. Seven travel alarm clocks were also discovered, several of which were being adapted to act as “timers.
The trial heard how, moments after armed detectives forced their way into the apartment, the two men were observed standing in the bathroom, wearing latex gloves. Also found in the bathroom was a clock with wiring coming from it, two batteries and a plate containing an explosive substance that had been partially scorched or burnt.
McConnell, a former fruit and vegetable salesman, claimed during the trial that he had travelled to Dublin on the evening of September 8th, 2008 in a bid to organise accommodation for a friend. He said he asked Fitzpatrick to “go for the spin” with him in case he got tired on the journey.
McConnell described how after getting lost en route, they were brought to an apartment where he believed he would meet the man who was helping him to source accommodation. He said that once there, he and Mr Fitzpatrick were instructed to put on latex gloves. McConnell said they were only in the apartment “for a brief period of time”.
Fitzpatrick, a former apprentice electrician, said he did not recall seeing any material in the living room. He said he was “uneasy and anxious” at being told to put on the gloves. He did so but said that in “hindsight it was not a great move”.
Delivering its guilty verdict today, Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding, rejected McConnell’s “innocent explanation” for being at the flat and held that Fitzpatrick’s account of why he was there was “beyond belief”.
The court held McConnell and Fitzpatrick were found in the apartment wearing latex gloves “in what was to all intents and purposes the middle of a bomb-making operation,” he said.
The men were remanded in custody for sentencing on January 25th.
The men were the last people to be convicted at the courthouse. The three judge non-jury Special Criminal Court is due to move to the new Criminal Courts of Justice at Parkgate Street next month after sitting for almost 38 years at Green Street.