Two men remanded in custody for possessing explosives in Laois
Portlaoise Courthouse
TWO men who were allegedly planning a terrorist attack on a mosque and who were allegedly part of a right-wing extremist group were back before Portlaoise District Court last week.
Garrett Pollock (35) from Kilhorne Green, Annalong, Co Down was before the court charged with one count of possessing explosives at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise on 5 November and one count of possessing explosives at an at Kilhorne Green, Co Down on 6 November.
His barrister, David Nugent, told Judge Susan Fay that the last time his client had been before the court he expressed his right to have his case heard in Northern Ireland, but was now reversing that decision and wanted it heard in the south of Ireland.
However, Mr Pollock interjected and informed the court that that was not the case, that he was still expressing his right to have his case heard in Northern Ireland.
Garda sgt JJ Kirby asked for the case to be remanded for a month to obtain directions from the director of public prosecutions.
Mr Nugent objected to the long remand, saying that his client had been in custody for the past nine weeks and that he had the right to the presumption of innocence.
“This matter needs to be expedited at pace,” said Mr Nugent, “it’s a ridiculous situation that a man is left in custody while the state dilly-dallies.” Sgt Kirby said that the case involved extensive investigation and was first before the courts on 7 November.
Judge Susan Fay remanded Mr Pollock in custody to 26 January and marked the case time passing.
The second man before the court was Karolis Peckauskas (38) of Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth.
He is charged with knowingly having in “his possession an explosive substance” at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois on Tuesday 4 November.
Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that a High Court bail application for his client had been refused.
He said that his client was not consenting to a four-week remand in custody and asked that any adjournment to the case be marked time passing.
Judge Fay remanded Mr Peckauskas in custody to 26 January for directions from the director of public prosecutions and marked the case time passing.
