Two men allegedly found in possession of a pipe bomb, a rifle and a silencer at Creggan Upper in Athlone in February were both remanded in custody for a further two weeks to allow time for the service of a Book of Eidence.
Mark Phelan (23 ) with an address at 101 Castlepark, Ballybane, Galway and Glen Walsh (27 ) of 8, Lealand Avenue, Bawnogue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, were both before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court on Wednesday (June 10 ).
Inspector Ernie White told the court that the Book of Evidence for both defendants was not ready because of the complicated nature of the case, which involved a large number of statements and ballistic evidence.
Phelan faces charges of possession of an explosive substance, namely a pipe bomb, at Mill Street Garda Station in Galway, which led to the evacuation of the station earlier this year, and the possession of a Remington Speedmeter .22 rifle and silencer at Creggan Upper, Athlone on February 27, 2009.
Walsh is charged with alleged possession of an explosive substance, a pipe bomb, at Creggan Upper, Athlone, and of possession of a firearm, a Remington Speedmeter .22 rifle, and silencer at Topaz Filling station, Athlone Road, on the same date.
The defendants were later further remanded in custody by consent to appear again at Galway District Court on June 24 for service of the Book of Evidence.
At a special sitting on February 28 the court heard that both men, who are unemployed, had given no reply when charged and were refused bail.
The two men were arrested in Athlone the day before and brought to Galway Garda Station where a suspect bomb device was discovered.
The station was evacuated and members of the Bomb Disposal Unit from Athlone were called in to safely remove it.
