Four men have been charged in connection with an incident at a Cork bar in which a man was allegedly threatened with a shotgun.
Stephen Fenton (21), Greystones, Ballincollig, Cork; Ian Finn (19), Leesdale Drive, Ballincollig; David Murphy (22), Castlepark, Ballincollig, and Shane Howell (24), Oaklands, Ballincollig, appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court yesterday. The four men were charged with the same offences, two charges of having a firearm at Poulavone, Carrigrohane, Cork, on July 31st last.
They were also charged with one count each of having ammunition at the same location on the same date.
Garda evidence was given of arrest, charge and caution at the sitting before Judge John O'Neill. None of the men made any reply to the charges.
Det Insp Tom Myers outlined to the court the circumstances of how the men were detained.
He said that at 8.40 pm on July 31st a number of men had entered the function room of a public house in Ballincollig. While they were inside they had threatened a man with a sawn-off shotgun before leaving the public house.
Det Insp Myers said that a Garda patrol car subsequently signalled a car to stop using a siren and beacon at Barry's Road, Ballincollig. "A high-speed chase ensued and two miles away, at Carrigrohane, with the help of other gardaí, they stopped the vehicle."
The detective said that gardaí allegedly found two loaded shotguns, one spent cartridge of ammunition and one live round.
Det Insp Myers told the court that the State was objecting to bail on the grounds that he had reason to believe the men would abscond before the trial and would intimidate witnesses.
Judge O'Neill said he had "carefully listened to the evidence" and refused bail.
All four men have been remanded to Cork Prison to appear again before a special sitting of Cork District Court tomorrow.