Former IRA grenades land man in court

Staff at Laurence Centre primary care unit became ‘perturbed’ when they were produced

AN elderly man who produced a number of hand grenades in a town centre medical practice, has had a public order offence struck out.

Thomas Burke (81), 8 St. Mary’s Villas, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Laurence Centre primary care unit, Peter Street, Drogheda, on 22 December, 2015.

Drogheda court was told that, although real, the hand grenades had been deactivated, and were gifted to the defendant by his uncle, who was a munitions officer for the Old IRA.

When the case was called initially, Judge Coughlan assigned a solicitor to represent Thomas Burke, even though the accused said he didn’t want one, as he was perfectly capable of representing himself.

‘I want you to have one,’ the judge replied. Garda Eric Scurry gave evidence that when Burke went to the medical centre to get blood tests, he was told he did not have the relevant paperwork.

He then ‘got a bit upset’, and produced a number of hand grenades.

Staff became

The defendant subsequently made himself available to gardaí when contacted on the phone.

Solicitor, Dorothy Walsh explained the hand grenades, which were never live, having been decommissioned, were gifted to her client by his uncle, Christy Burke, a munitions officer, in command of manufacturing grenades for the Old IRA.

Thomas Burke had then given them to the Millmount Museum.

At this time, he had the grenades back at home. He regrets the upset caused, but the grenades are very important to him, and he wants to have them returned.

However, Inspector Brendan Cadden said he would prefer if the grenades were given to the museum.

Judge Coughlan noted Thomas Burke has no previous convictions, is 81 years-of-age, and ‘is obviously a very decent man.’

He struck out the charge, and granted the defendant legal aid. ‘perturbed’, Gda. Scurry continued.