Brothers held on explosives charges

Brothers held on explosives charges


Gardaí make arrests after surprise raid near Carnacon

Rowan Gallagher and Anton McNulty

TWO MAYO brothers charged with possession of explosives and membership of the IRA have been remanded in custody until Friday next after appearing before the Special Criminal Court yesterday evening (Monday).
Colin Mannion (32) of Burriscarra, Clogher, Claremorris and Brian Mannion (29) also of Burriscarra, Clogher, Claremorris are accused of being in possession of explosives material on Saturday, June 9 at a house close to the well-known village of Carnacon
The two brothers appeared before a Special Criminal Court sitting after they were arrested in a raid on a premises in Clogher which was part of a garda operation against dissident republican activity in the west of Ireland.
Detective Garda-Sergeant Gary Walsh arrested Colin Mannion at the Mall in Castlebar yesterday (Monday) and brought him to the the sitting of the Special Criminal Court which was held in Parkgate Street Court House in Dublin.
Similarly, Detective Inspector Thomas Morris arrested Brian Mannion at the Mall in Castlebar and escorted him to the court.
Colin Mannion made no reply when charged while Brian Mannion responded “Nothing”. The two men were arrested following a raid which found explosives material and detonation components.
An army team attended the scene and the house was sealed off for purposes of a technical and forensic examination. Following their arrest on Saturday evening, the two men were brought to Castlebar Garda Station where they were detained under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.
A Garda spokesperson explained that while the garda raid was part of an investigation into dissident republican activity in the west of Ireland he would not comment on how long the premises was under surveillance or if the premises was used to make devices or simply for storage.
This was not the first garda raid on property in the west of Ireland in an operation against dissident republican activity. In January 2011, gardaí searched lands at Monivea in Galway, and recovered a quantity of explosive material in an out-building. A further search was carried out in a farmhouse at the same location during which four firearms were recovered - one handgun and three shotguns.
In a follow-up operation Gardaí searched a house in Tuam, Galway and recovered a firearm.
The Mayo brothers will appear again at a sitting of the Special Criminal Court this Friday, June 15.

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