Two men have appeared in court charged with possession of explosives after their arrest by gardaí during a cross-Border antiterrorism operation.
The men, who were arrested in Co Laois on Tuesday night, were brought before Portlaoise District Court on Friday.
The court was told the charges arise from an investigation into an alleged terrorist attack in the planning by a right-wing extremist group.
It was alleged during Garda evidence that a video recording had been made by four masked men indicating their intention to take violent action. Judge Andrew Cody remarked that the video, shown to him after the court was cleared, showed “anyone interfering would be a target” for the group.
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A document described as a “manifesto” for the extremist right wing group also forms part of the evidence, having been found during searches.
Karolis Peckauskas (38) of Newfoundwell Rd, Drogheda, Co Louth, and Garrett Pollock (35), with an address at Kilhorne, Green, Annalong, Co Down, appeared before Judge Cody just after noon.
Mr Peckauskas faces one charge of knowingly having in “his possession an explosive substance” at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois, where both men were arrested late on Tuesday night.
Garda Joe Fahy told the court he arrested Mr Peckauskas for the purposes of charging at 11.44pm on Thursday, at Portlaoise Garda station. He told the court when the charge was put to him, he said in reply: “I do not understand.”
It is alleged he had in his possession on Tuesday at O’Moore Park four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide “under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that you did not have it in your possession for a lawful object”.
The alleged offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1883, as amended by Section 15(4) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998.
Det Declan O’Connor of the Special Detective Unit gave evidence to the court about the arrest and charge of Mr Pollock. He said when both of the charges were put to him at Tullamore Garda station, Co Offaly, at 12:03am on Friday he made no reply.
Mr Pollock faces one charge related to the alleged possession of explosives at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, and one of possessing explosives at an address on Kilhorne, Green. The court was told the search of Mr Pollock’s home at Kilhorne Green was carried out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) after a request from the Garda.
It is alleged that Mr Pollock had in his possession on Wednesday at the property at Kilhorne Green “three externally threaded metal pipes, hexagonal metal end caps and lengths of green firework fuse”. It is alleged these were “the components of three pipe bomb type improvised explosive devices”. It is also alleged he possessed “four incendiary type improvised explosive devices with white dish cloth wicks”.
The charge alleges Mr Pollock possessed those items at the address in Co Down “under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that you did not have it in your possession for a lawful object”.
The alleged offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1883, as amended by Section 15(4) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998.
Mr Pollock is also facing an explosives charged relating to his presence at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, on Tuesday. It is alleged he had in his possession “four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide”. These were in his possession, it is alleged, “under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that you did not have it in your possession for a lawful object”.
There was no bail application by Mr Peckauskas, who was assigned an interpreter in court. He was remanded in custody to appear before the court via video link next Thursday, November 13th.
Mr Pollock has applied for bail and Judge Cody said he would make a decision on that application on Friday afternoon. Gardaí objected to the application.
Det O’Connor told the court it was alleged, on the basis of evidence gathered – including a video seized depicting four masked men – that Mr Pollock was “planning a terrorist attack on behalf of a right-wing extremist group”.
The video was discovered on a device examined as part of the investigation and captured four masked males and the reading of a statement outlining intentions to “take violent action”. It is alleged Mr Pollock is one of the masked men in the video, which was shown to Judge Cody at his request, though the court was told Mr Pollock did not accept this or other evidence about him stated in court.
Det O’Connor told the court he had no intelligence about Mr Pollock before his arrest in Portlaoise on Tuesday night. He added Mr Pollock had no previous convictions and that he was obliged to inform the court Mr Pollock had a right to trial in Northern Ireland, where he resides, if he wishes.
Det O’Connor added the investigation was in its preliminary stages and as any evidence unearthed could lead to further inquiries, it was impossible to determine how long the probe would take to complete.
He added Mr Pollock had “no ties” to the Republic and lived with his two young daughters, believed to be aged 13 and 11 years, at the address in Co Down searched by the PSNI.
Det O’Connor told the court that Mr Pollock had been a passenger in the car of the co-accused when arrested. He said he had “made admissions” while in Garda custody – during which he was interviewed six times – and had “taken ownership” of items seized from the car at O’Moore Place.
It was also stated in court that Mr Pollock had admitted he had “created or produced” a document recovered which was described during the hearing as a “manifesto” for the right wing extremist group he was now being linked to.
David Nugent BL, for Pollock, said his client did “not accept” he was one of the four masked men in the video.
Det O’Connor said gardaí suspect Mr Pollock would interfere with witnesses if granted bail and was a flight risk as he had “no ties” to the Republic. Garda were also concerned about the possibility he could plan attacks, manufacturer devices and pose a security threat. He told the court the charges were serious and carried a jail term, on conviction, of up to 14 years.
