A Dublin museum employee has appeared in court, charged with possessing explosives that were intercepted in a car near the Irish border.
Simon O’Donovan, 44, of Drimnagh, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Saturday evening, and was remanded in custody.
O’Donovan also represented himself in a bail hearing before the High Court, where his application for bail was refused after gardaí raised objections.
The court was told during that hearing that he was employed at the Collins Barracks National Museum.
Detective Sergeant Shane Noone told the court that he arrested Mr O’Donovan at 5.07pm on Saturday and informed him that he would be charged with possession of explosives.
After cautioning, Mr Noone said O’Donovan replied “I don’t understand” and was informed of the caution again.
Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law said he had not taken instruction from O’Donovan due to a solicitors’ strike over changes to criminal legal aid fees, and was only appearing in court out of courtesy.
O’Donovan told Judge Patrick McGrath that he had “no representation at all”, and had asked for “the services of this gentleman beside me”, referring to Mr Mackin.
The court rose briefly so that O’Donovan could confer with Mr Mackin on an application for bail.
When it returned, Mr O’Donovan said he was looking to represent himself in a bail hearing before the High Court as he did not have the means to contest it privately.
He said that the situation was “grossly unfair”, that he would be “willing to try” a bail hearing, and that his family and friends were present in court.
State solicitor Liam Mulholland said it was “very unusual” to apply for bail late in the day in “a matter such as this”, but added that if a person wants to apply for bail then the court has to hear the application.
The three-judge Special Criminal Court remanded O’Donovan in custody until Monday and rose.
Judge McGrath then returned a few minutes later for a sitting of the High Court to hear O’Donovan’s bail application, which was refused after objections were raised by gardaí.
During the bail application, O’Donovan told the court: “Just to state on the record that it seems to be quite unfair and there doesn’t seem to be continuity about how bail is granted, some people who can afford can, and some people who can’t are left without it.”
O’Donovan is due to appear in person before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday.
He blew kisses to his supporters in court before being remanded in custody.
On Wednesday, a vehicle travelling on the N2 near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan was stopped and searched by gardaí.
Law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, of Abbeylands Park in Clane, Co Kildare, appeared before a district court on Friday, charged with possession of explosives in relation to the case.
Her solicitor Gavin Booth of Phoenix Law said she had been asked to take a bag to the north and had not been aware what was in it.
Perrie Sullivan was granted bail but remains in custody ahead of a further bail hearing on Monday.
