AN ADVERTISING trailer and two modified gas cylinders found on the premises of a Louth man during a Garda raid should be considered explosive substances, his Special Criminal Court trial has heard.
Philip McKevitt (58), Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to the possession of an improvised trailer and two gas cylinders adapted to cause an explosion at his home on May 22nd, 2010.
His co-accused, Conan Murphy (25), Plaster, Mount Pleasant, has also pleaded not guilty to the possession of explosive substances at the same address and on the same date.
A Garda ballistics expert told Paul Greene SC, prosecuting, that he examined a number of items found on Mr McKevitt’s premises, including a recently constructed advertising trailer, two modified gas cylinders, 52 bags of glucose and a reel wound with modified electrical wire.
Det Garda Shane Curran told the court that concealed within advertising panels on the box-steel trailer were two gas cylinders which had been cut with an angle grinder.
Each cylinder had its gas regulator and a large section cut away, adaptations he had seen in other gas cylinders similarly modified to facilitate the insertion of an explosive fuel.
Det Garda Curran told Mr Greene it was his opinion that the gas cylinders and the trailer should be considered explosive substances. He said he was also present at Aghaboys when gardaí searching the premises removed 52 bags of glucose from the boot of a Vauxhall Vectra car belonging to Mr McKevitt.
Det Garda Curran told the court that he was aware of several incidences where glucose was used as accelerant for explosive materials and that he had taken part in a joint operation with the PSNI where glucose was found in an explosive device.
Based on his knowledge and experience, it was his opinion that the glucose was to be used with an ammonium nitrate mix to form a high explosive.
Det Garda Curran said the reel and electrical wire were modified in a similar manner to the command wire of an improvised explosive device, and that these items should also be considered an explosive substance.
He agreed with Diarmaid McGuinness SC, for Mr McKevitt, that no explosives were found at Aghaboys and that the adaptive trailer and the modified gas cylinders by themselves could not cause an explosion.
However, Det Garda Curran said it was his opinion that the items he examined had been adapted to aid or cause an explosion and should constitute explosive substances as defined under the law.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler.