A Dublin man who was arrested after French police uncovered guns and ammunition during an investigation into alleged Real IRA activity has been refused bail by the Special Criminal Court.
The court heard that Mr Gary Roche was arrested by Special Branch detectives after French police found three automatic pistols and 130 rounds of ammunition in a barrel hidden in the ground near Dieppe last month.
Gary Roche (28), of Knockmaree Apartments, Chapelizod, Dublin was charged last month with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on November 4th.
Opposing bail, Det Supt Diarmuid O'Sullivan, of the Special Detective Unit, said that he believed Mr Roche would not stand trial if given bail and would abscond.
He said that the French authorities arrested a number of people as a result of an investigation into terrorist activity and in the course of a search near Dieppe they found three automatic pistols and 130 rounds of ammunition in a barrel hidden in the ground.
Special Branch detectives say they searched Mr Roche's apartment and found a number of items including soldering wire, a circuit board, a map of France, Belgium and Luxembourg and sheets of paper giving information on how to make TNT, black powder, mercury fulminate, nitroglycerine and other explosive substances.
Detective Superintendent O' Sullivan said that Roche had recently married a Vietnamese woman and he believed that if granted bail Roche would try and leave the jurisdiction to join her.
He also said that he believed that if given bail Mr Roche would continue to be a member of the Real IRA and would continue to involve himself in procuring firearms and explosives for that organisation.
Mr Roche said in evidence that he would be pleading not guilty to the charge and he said he would stand trial if given bail. He also said he was prepared to give an undertaking to the court not to associate with members of unlawful organisations.
Refusing bail, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, presiding, said there were a number of factors militating against the granting of bail including the seriousness of the charge and the strength of the case against Mr Roche.
The judge said that if there was a change of circumstance the court would be prepared to look at the bail issue again. Mr Roche was remanded in custody until February 17th next year.