A 62-year-old man has pleaded guilty at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court to manufacturing explosives and to having firearms and ammunition at his Co Kerry home in March 2021.
Ivan Gilder of Gearha North, Blackwater, Sneem, Co Kerry and originally from Scotland, entered guilty pleas to seven charges under the Offences Against the State and the Criminal Justice Acts.
The offences include making an explosive substance, namely a white crystalline powder containing Erithritol Tetranitrate (ETN) "under such circumstances as to give rise to the reasonable suspicion that he did not make it for a lawful object", according to the charge.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive substance, namely black crystalline powder known as 'black powder', as well as having a pipe bomb, a radio-controlled multi-channel pyrotechnic initiator and control transmitter which he had made or manufactured, in his possession.
He also admitted to having an explosive substance, ‘an improvised electric match’, which he had manufactured or made.
Gilder also admitted to possessing a 12-gauge Lamber make shotgun as well as to having 367 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition and 86 shotgun cartridges, in suspicious circumstances.
A second man, Thomas Albrighton, 33, of Ardeen, Sneem, Co Kerry, pleaded guilty last week at Tralee Circuit Court to possession of ammunition in March 2021, including 271 rounds of .22 ammunition and nine 12 gauge shotgun cartridges.
Albrighton also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, a .22 calibre Marlin rifle which was not authorised by a firearms certificate.
Prosecutor Tom Rice said both accused had now pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and the prosecution now has to seek direction from the DPP as to the scale of the offences.
Judge Sinéad Behan adjourned the matter to 16 January 2024.
Legal aid granted for both men was extended.
