Special Branch detectives intercepted a large home-made bomb destined for Northern Ireland near the Border last year, the Special Criminal Court has been told.
Gareth Mulley (45), of Aisling Park, Dundalk, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of an explosive substance, an adapted 50-litre beer keg, 50kg of ammonium nitrate home-made explosives, an improvised steel booster tube and an improvised time and power unit at Kilcurry Church, Co Louth, on May 25th, 2014.
Paul Greene SC said in May last year the crime and security section and Special Detective Unit were investigating the activities of the IRA in the Louth border area.
Members of the Special Detective Unit observed Mr Mulley on May 20th and 25th around his home in Dundalk and at the grounds of Kilcurry Church.
“This set of events were preparatory to the movement of an improvised explosive device to another jurisdiction, Northern Ireland,” he said.
The trial is continuing.