Brothers Glen Ward and Eric O’Driscoll to apply for bail at Special Criminal Court

Mr Ward (31) and Mr O’Driscoll (22) are charged with possession of firearms and reckless discharge on dates in January 2022 in the Finglas area of north Dublin. One charge alleges that Mr O’Driscoll was in possession of a military submachine gun.

Yesterday at the three-judge court defence lawyers Keith Spencer BL, for Mr Ward, and Oisín Clarke BL, for Mr O’Driscoll, said their clients were seeking a date for a bail hearing.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the non-jury court would hear the bail application at a later date.

In February at the High Court, bail for the brothers was denied with gardaí objecting to it being granted.

Earlier this month, a solicitor for the State applied through the Offences Against the State Act to have the trials transferred to the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Hunt, presiding, granted the applications.

Mr Ward, who has an address in Finglas, is charged that on January 1, 2022, at Ratoath Drive in Finglas he had in his possession or control a .223 Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.

He is also charged that on the same date and at the same location he discharged a firearm, being reckless as to whether any person would be injured.

Mr O’Driscoll, also of Finglas, faces two charges identical to those against Mr Ward plus three further charges. Two relate to the alleged possession of a .223 Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at Ratoath Drive on January 9, 2022.

Another alleges that on the same date he had in his possession or under his control a .380 ACP calibre military armament corporation make Ingram M11 submachine gun in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.

The offences are contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and the Firearms Act 1964.