A CO Longford man was charged before a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin last night with having an explosive device on the eve of the visit of Queen Elizabeth last week.
Donal Billings (60), of St Bridget’s Court, Drumlish, Co Longford, was charged with unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at Longford railway station car park on May 16th.
Det Insp Patrick Finlay gave evidence of arresting Mr Billings at Battery Road, Longford, yesterday.
He said that after Mr Billings was cautioned he replied: “Ní hea” (No). The court remanded him in custody until Thursday when a bail application is expected to be heard.
The device was found in the luggage compartment of a Bus Éireann bus in Maynooth, Co Kildare, last Monday night.
Irish Army bomb disposal experts defused the device.