Man denies any knowledge of bomb-making material in flat
A young Dublin man denied knowing anything about bomb-making paraphernalia discovered during an armed raid on a Clondalkin apartment, when he was questioned by gardaí, the Special Criminal Court heard today.
Gareth Byrne (aged 27) of Park Crescent, Kimmage, Dublin 12, is one of three men on trial before the three-judge, non-jury court, accused of unlawfully possessing explosive materials at an apartment in The Crescent, Park West Pointe, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on September 9, 2008.
Mr Byrne, and two other young men; Cormac Fitzpatrick (aged 23) of Cathedral Walk, Monaghan, Co Monaghan and Terry McConnell (aged 28) of Tullymore Gardens, Andersontown, Belfast have all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Propellant powder, steel pipes, bulbs, batteries, several travel alarm clocks and duct tape were among the items seized when gardaí raided the flat last year. The trial has already heard from a ballistics expert who said there was sufficient explosive material “to fully construct four pipe bombs”.
Detective Garda Deirdre Ryan, special branch, told the court that she questioned Mr Byrne, following his arrest in a car park opposite the apartment block in the early hours of September 9, 2008.
The trial heard how Gareth Byrne told investigating officers, he had “absolutely no knowledge” of or “contact with” explosive materials found at the apartment, and that “forensics would prove this”.
Detective Garda Ryan said when Mr Byrne was asked to account for a walkie talkie recovered from his car, he responded “no comment”.
Evidence was also heard from Detective Garda Gordon Woulfe, special branch, who was involved in the questioning of Cormac Fitzpatrick following his arrest inside the apartment
The court heard that when Mr Fitzpatrick was asked to account for his presence at the apartment, he said “O.K I was there”. When asked why he had been there, Mr Fitzpatrick replied “no comment”.
The trial continues.
