3 charged over arms find ‘in a stolen car’ Men arrested by gardai targeting feuding gangs
THREE men have appeared in court charged in connection with an arms find.
The men were arrested in a garda operation in central Dublin last Saturday, allegedly in a stolen car and in possession of ammunition and firearms.
Each of the accused were charged with nine counts at the city’s District Court.
They are accused of possession of a Makarov handgun, a Beretta handgun, a .38 revolver, a Polish made sub-machine gun and quantities of ammunition.
Glen Thompson, 23, of Plunkett Drive, Finglas, North Dublin, made no reply when charged, the court heard.
His brother Gary Thompson, 34, of Glen, Plunkett Green, Finglas, also made no reply after he was charged at Store Street Garda station.
Robert Brown, 35, of Phibsboro Road, North Dublin, replied “not guilty” to each count.
Judge Grainne O’neill had adjourned the hearing until the afternoon to take applications for
Firearm found inside car bail from defence counsel. Gardai have said they would object.
When the court returned none of the accused made any applications for bail. Their defence counsel said they would do so at later time.
Robert Brown’s solicitor asked Judge O’neill to place his client in an alternative to Clover Hill Prison.
The State made an application that the next sitting would be heard through video link “for security reasons”.
Judge O’neill adjourned the case until March 20 at Clover Hill District Court.
The men were arrested at Belmont Apartments on Gardiner Street by members of the Emergency Response Unit.
Gardai said it was part of an ongoing investigation into feuding gangs in Dublin.
A fourth man arrested as part of the investigation was released without charge and a file is being sent to the DPP.