Simon O’Donovan, a 44-year-old employee of the Collins Barracks National Museum in Dublin, blew kisses to supporters as he was remanded in custody on Saturday evening after being charged with possession of explosives that were intercepted in a car near the Irish border.
O’Donovan, of Sperrin Road in Drimnagh, appeared before the Special Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. Detective Sergeant Shane Noone told the court he arrested O’Donovan at 5.07pm on Saturday and informed him he would be charged with possession of explosives at St Laurence’s Road in Chapelizod on Wednesday July 22. After cautioning, Noone said O’Donovan replied, “I don’t understand.”
“Simon O'Donovan, 44, charged with explosives possession after car intercept near Irish border; bail refused.”
The court was told the explosives were found on Wednesday in a vehicle travelling on the N2 near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan, close to the border.
O’Donovan represented himself in a subsequent bail hearing before the High Court, where his application was refused after gardaí raised objections. During the hearing, he told the court: “Just to state on the record that it seems to be quite unfair and there doesn’t seem to be continuity about how bail is granted, some people who can afford can, and some people who can’t are left without it.”
The situation was complicated by a solicitors’ strike over changes to criminal legal aid fees. Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law said he had not taken instructions from O’Donovan due to the strike and was only appearing out of courtesy. O’Donovan told Judge Patrick McGrath he had “no representation at all” and referred to Mackin as “the services of this gentleman beside me”.
The court rose briefly for O’Donovan to confer with Mackin on a bail application. When it returned, O’Donovan said he wanted to represent himself in the High Court as he did not have the means to contest it privately, calling the situation “grossly unfair”. He said he would be “willing to try” a bail hearing and that his family and friends were present.
State solicitor Liam Mulholland said it was “very unusual” to apply for bail late in the day in “a matter such as this”, but acknowledged the court had to hear the application if the person wanted one. The three-judge Special Criminal Court remanded O’Donovan in custody until Monday and then rose.
Judge McGrath returned minutes later for a sitting of the High Court to hear the bail application. Gardaí raised objections and bail was refused. O’Donovan is due to appear in person before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday.