Two brothers awaiting trial on firearms charges and for discharging a "military grade" semi-automatic rifle in a residential area in Dublin have initiated fresh applications for bail in the High Court.
Glen Ward, 30, from Finglas, Dublin, and his brother Eric O'Driscoll, 22, also from Finglas, were denied bail last week following a lengthy application, opposed by gardaí, at Cloverhill District Court.
Following that ruling, they lodged fresh applications which came before the High Court in Cloverhill on Tuesday. The matter was listed before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, and their bail hearing was adjourned until next week.
Mr Ward is charged with possession of an AR-15 rifle and reckless discharge of a firearm at an address at Ratoath Drive, Finglas, on or about January 1st, 2022.
Mr O'Driscoll was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm at the same address on the same date.
He is also accused of possession of an AR-15, as well as an Ingram submachine gun and ammunition, at another address at Ratoath Drive on February 10th, 2022.
At last week’s district court bail hearing, Detective Sergeant Niall Murray objected, citing the seriousness of the case. He alleged that on February 10th, 2022, gardaí searched a house in Ratoath Drive as part of a larger operation targeting feuding gangs.
Detective Sergeant Murray alleged they recovered a "military grade" AR-15, an Ingram submachine gun, 320 rounds of various ammunition and three magazines for an Uzi submachine gun.
It was alleged that the defendants had access to the house from another property in the locality and had control of the weapons.
He stressed that the homeowners were law-abiding people and not suspected of any involvement.
On June 20th, 2022, it was alleged the defendants were fired at while travelling in a taxi and that they fled, but Mr O'Driscoll left his phone in the cab. Gardaí recovered it and allegedly found two videos. It was claimed the first showed Mr Ward discharging a firearm, and the second showed Mr O'Driscoll letting off three shots.
The bail hearing was told that Garda ballistics experts examined the footage and believed the weapon was an AR-15 consistent with the seized rifle, which had clearly distinguishing marks.
The detective sergeant maintained the footage, which was not played during the bail hearing, also showed Mr O'Driscoll handling firearms, including two AR-15s and an Ingram, and a large quantity of ammunition in plastic bags, which were "clearly visible" in the high-quality video.
The bail hearing was also told that Mr O'Driscoll's phone Google history searched for "how to wash out gunshot residue from clothing" and searches about AR-15s.
The detective sergeant agreed with defence counsel Keith Spencer (instructed by solicitor Niall O'Connor) that there was no forensic evidence.
He also accepted that there were no witnesses of them going in and out of the house.
The defence said they "intend to fight fully" the charges. The brothers have deferred legal aid applications until they can furnish the court with statements of their means. Gardaí have to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
