Gardaí on routine traffic patrol found three loaded pistols, balaclavas, a baseball bat and an iron bar when they stopped a car containing four men outside Mitchelstown, Co Cork, last year, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Prosecuting counsel, Mr John Edwards SC, said it was the State's case that the four were engaged in a common design at the time of their arrest. The court was told that the car had been stolen earlier in Waterford city.
Before the court are Seán Kind (41), St Joseph's Terrace, Rockenham, Passage West, Co Cork, Walter Nagle (24), Avoncore Estate, Midleton, Co Cork, Michael Nugent (27), of Meadow Park Lawn, Ballyvolane, Cork, and Kieran Kiely (26) of Mill Road, Youghal, Co Cork.
All four have pleaded not guilty to having three pistols and 18 rounds of ammunition without a firearms certificate, and to having the pistols and ammunition for an unlawful purpose at Cahir Hill, Ballinwillin, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on January 29th, 2001.
Mr Edwards said two members of the Fermoy traffic unit, Garda Tony Cronin and Garda Edward Geary, followed and stopped a blue Ford Escort.
While Garda Cronin was asking the driver for his licence and insurance, Garda Geary opened the front passenger door and saw a firearm and a claw hammer in the footwell of the passenger seat. He sat on the legs of the front passenger to prevent him reaching for the gun. Garda Cronin searched the driver and found a black balaclava and a handgun.
All four were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. The trial continues tomorrow.