Gardaí discovered four guns, a makeshift firing range and targets when they raided a suspected Continuity IRA training camp at a clearing in the Comeragh mountains, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday.
They found four men at a firing point being given instructions by two others, and three men armed with shotguns acting as sentries, the court was told.
The gardaí who had been observing the training heard up to 60 shots being fired, including rifle and small-arms fire, Mr Patrick J. McCarthy SC, prosecuting, said. Nine men arrested at the scene have pleaded guilty to firearms offences.
They are Patrick Deery (53), a native of Claudy, Co Derry, with an address at Woodhouse, Stradbally, Co Waterford; Joseph Mooney (36), of Ozzier Court, Co Waterford; John O'Halloran (34), of Ross Avenue, Limerick;
Mark McMahon (36), of Commodore Barry Park, Wexford; Patrick J. Kelly (37), of Belvedere Grove, Wexford; and Dean Coleman (23), of Clarina Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick.
They pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a American model rifle in suspicious circumstances at Knocknaree, Knockatedaun, Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, on August 3rd, 2003.
Thomas Barry (21), of Larchville, Lisduggan, Co Waterford, and Brian Galvin (38), of Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a Baikal shotgun.
Michael Leahy (23), of McCarthyville, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a sawn-off single-barrel shotgun .
Mr McCarthy told the court that gardaí acting on information had kept a forest in the Comeragh mountains under observation. The area was six miles from Clonmel and was a clearing in the forest.
They kept the area under observation between 1.25 p.m. and 3.40 p.m. before moving in and arresting the nine men.
"The purpose was to conduct a training camp or training activities with firearms," he added.
Mr McCarthy said that gardaí found makeshift paper targets containing holes and spare targets. They also found two rifles mounted on tripods approximately 100 metres from the targets. The group of nine men had arrived in a van and a car.
Mr McCarthy said three of the weapons, a .22 rifle and a .17 rifle, and a double-barrelled shotgun were legally held weapons, but the fourth, a single-barrelled sawn-off shotgun had been stolen.
Det Supt Liam King, Waterford, told the court that Galvin, Barry and Leahy were acting as sentries at a T-junction some distance from the firing range. They had a legally held shotgun and the sawn-off shotgun. When gardaí searched Deery's home they found a number of spent shells, three balaclavas, berets and gloves, a collection box for republican prisoners, a Republican Sinn Féin agenda, a tin whistle with "IRA" on it, Easter lilies and 20 pairs of rubber gloves.
In a search of Mooney's home they found a balaclava, five disposable suits, an An Phoblacht diary and a list of names.
At McMahon's home they found 14 green army jumpers, five green berets, two black berets, two pairs of white gloves and a copy of the Saoirse newspaper. McMahon said he had bought the clothing at an army surplus store at the Curragh for use at Easter parades.
In a search at Kelly's home gardaí found a map of Portlaoise Prison, a list of phone numbers, republican newspapers and tickets for a Republican Sinn Féin lottery.
At Leahy's home they found a copy of the Saoirse newspaper, a republican calendar and a republican roll of honour.
At Barry's home gardaí found an air pistol, a catapult, a photograph of Martin McGuinness and Thomas Barry, a sheet of paper with "CIRA" on it and newspaper clippings.
Gardaí found a photo of Martin Ferris and Barry Galvin at Galvin's home, a Tricolour with the names of hunger-strikers on it and pamphlets about the hunger-strike.
Supt King told Ms Deirdre Murphy SC, who appeared for Mooney, that he had given an explanation that he was stalking deer, after his arrest.
Mr Justice Johnson said the court hoped to impose sentences tomorrow morning.