Lawyers for three men accused of having a major explosives haul last year yesterday asked the Special Criminal Court to stop hearing their trial, which was adjourned on April 13th last because of the illness of one of the three judges.
The court had heard 22 days of evidence at that stage and the trial was due to resume yesterday. The men's lawyers applied to the court yesterday to discharge itself from continuing the trial because of the lengthy adjournment.
The court has heard that gardai found 28 bags of crushed fertiliser and five bags of the fertiliser in granule form at a disused fish shop in Howth and another bag of fertiliser in granule form at an unoccupied house in Bettystown, Co Meath.
Mr Eamonn Flanagan (44), a native of Co Tyrone, with an address at The Square, Skerries, and Mr Seamus McLoughlin (68), of Balkill Park, Howth, Co Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to do so at West Pier, Howth, on January 5th last year.
Mr Joseph Dillon (54), public relations officer for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, of Greenlawns, Skerries, has pleaded not guilty to possession of an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to do so at Windswept, Golf Links Road, Bettys town, Co Meath, on January 5th last year.