A man has appeared in court, charged in connection with the unlawful possession of a pipe bomb in Dublin.
Sammy Hutch, 48, of Cardiffsbridge Avenue, Finglas, was arrested for carrying an "improvised explosive device" close to his home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Blanchardstown District Court heard today that he believed there was a "viable" threat to his safety.
He begged, via his lawyer, to be put into "protective custody" when he appeared before Judge Gerard Jones.
Mr Hutch was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning and detained at a local garda station before being charged with an offence under section four of the Explosive Substances Act.
He has not yet indicated a plea and did not address the court but clutched his chest and bent over several times as he sat on the defendant's bench.
Garda Mary Devins told the court that Mr Hutch "made no reply to charge", and she confirmed that she intended to object to bail due to the seriousness of the case.
However, defence counsel Ciaran MacLoughlin told Judge Jones there was no application for bail at this stage.
Mr Hutch was remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Tuesday.
Mr MacLoughlin was granted an order for medical attention to be given to Mr Hutch in prison custody.
"He has asked me to convey that he would like to be put in some form of protective custody because he believes there is some form of viable threat to his safety," Mr MacLoughlin said.
Judge Jones held that was a matter for the prison authorities. Legal aid was granted.
Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions have yet to be conveyed on whether the case will remain in the district court or go forward to the circuit court, which has broader sentencing powers.
