Man allegedly involved in making explosives to be served book of evidence
Olivia Kelleher
A book of evidence is to be served on a 46-year-old man who was allegedly involved in manufacturing guns and explosives at a property in Douglas, Cork city, last year.
Paul Sheehan of Elm Drive, Shamrock Lawn, Douglas, Cork was initially charged with a total of four offences. He first appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court in November of last year.
At that time, the charges faced by Sheehan included possession of a .32 calibre Beretta semi-automatic pistol, a deactivated .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver, a slide for a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol and three pipe bomb bodies.
He was also charged with unlawful possession of the .32 calibre Beretta semi-automatic and the slide for a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol at Applegreen Service Station in Mallow on November 4th.
Sheehan was also charged with unlawful possession of a deactivated .38 calibre Smith & Wesson six-shot revolver and three pipe bomb casings at Elm Drive, Shamrock Lawn in Douglas on November 5th, 2025
Sheehan appeared before the court again on Monday of this week where he was charged with an additional 17 offences.
They consisted of nine firearms or ammunition offences and two drugs offences at the Applegreen station in Mallow on November 4th, 2025 and six firearms or ammunition offences in Douglas on November 5th, 2025.
One of the original firearms charges at the Applegreen station was struck out after the DPP directed that it be withdrawn. Mr Sheehan was further remanded in custody to appear before the court again today. (Friday)
On Friday, at a sitting of Cork District Court, Sgt John Dineen said that a book of evidence was being prepared. Defence barrister Gearoid Smiddy said that Mr Sheehan consented to a four-week adjournment in the case.
Judge Monica Leech remanded Sheehan in custody to appear before the court on May 25th next.
Meanwhile, Det Garda Anthony Daly previously told the court that Sheehan was discovered to be in possession of illegally held firearms and ammunition “in suspicious circumstances” at the Applegreen service station in Mallow, Co Cork on November 4th, 2025.
“A follow up search was conducted at his home address at Elm Drive. A large amount of firearms, explosives and equipment for manufacturing, altering and producing firearms and ammunition was located.”
Judge Mary Dorgan heard that the Army bomb disposal unit and members of the Garda Ballistics Section were deployed to attend, contain and make safe the scene.
Det Garda Daly said that when Sheehan was searched at the Applegreen station in Mallow on November 4th, 2025, he was found to be in possession of a .32 calibre Beretta semi-automatic pistol, a slide of a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol, firearms components and a quantity of cocaine.
“There was evidence of a firearm having been discharged from within the vehicle.”
He said that a large amount of firearms, ammunition and explosive substances were found in the property in Elm Drive. Three pipe bombs were discovered, and gardaí also found evidence of the manufacture and alteration of firearms and ammunition.
Daly added that Sheehan had made certain admissions to gardaí.
