Gardai said they believed Andrew McNaughton was an “essential cog in a sophisticated organised crime group”.
Andrew McNaughton (51) appeared in Dublin District Court today after the drugs, guns and ammunition were found in a van in a shed at a house where he was the “sole resident.”
He was refused bail following objections by gardai who said they believed he was an “essential cog in a sophisticated organised crime group” and was “caught red-handed.”
Judge Patricia Cronin remanded him in custody for DPP directions after hearing that while Mr McNaughton is currently only charged with drugs offences, gardai expect he will be further charged over the guns.
Mr McNaughton is accused of possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Jordanstown, Oldtown, Co Dublin last Tuesday, August 26.
Andrew McNaughton (51)
News in 90 Seconds – Thursday, August 28
Garda Brian O’Carroll said the accused made no reply when charged at Balbriggan station at 9.40pm last night.
Objecting to bail, he said a search was carried out at the accused’s residence by members of the Dublin Crime Response Team. He gave gardai a key from a kitchen press, to open a locked shed to the rear of the house, Gda O’Carroll said.
Inside, in a Nissan Primastar van, gardai allegedly found 38.5kg of cannabis worth €772,000 and 70g of cocaine worth an estimated €4,900, along with two assault rifles. One was an AR-15 branded Colt M16 A1 loaded with a magazine containing 22 rounds of live ammunition.
The second was a Heckler & Koch 416 with a magazine containing 15 rounds of live ammunition. A further 98 rounds of ammunition were found in boxes alongside the guns.
Mr McNaughton was the sole resident of the property and was arrested and charged. The guns were deemed to be firearms in a preliminary ballistics examination. The AR-15 was a standard issue assault rifle of a type used by the American military forces, Gda O’Carroll said.
The 416 was a type favoured by special forces around the world, he said, including the Irish Army Ranger Wing.
The guns were “capable of inflicting serious harm if used in a public setting,” the garda continued.
The vehicle was not registered to the accused but he was in possession of it and had direct access to it and “full control” over it, he alleged.
The accused had not been charged over the guns but Gda O’Carroll said there was a likelihood of further charges for firearms offences and in relation to the cocaine.
Gardai believed the drugs and guns were being stored on behalf of an organised crime group and the accused’s actions were central to the success of its distribution network. It was alleged he had facilitated the “movement, storage and transportation of deadly firearms”.
“It’s our belief he’s an essential cog in a sophisticated organised crime group,” Gda O’Carroll said. He believed Mr McNaughton was an “integral part” of this rather than “just a patsy”.
Gda O’Carroll also believed the accused would evade justice if granted bail.
Defence barrister Paddy Flynn, instructed by solicitor Martin O’Donnell, applied for bail. The court heard Mr McNaughton had no previous convictions and Mr Flynn argued he was “at a low level” in relation to the allegations.
The garda accepted the accused handed over the key to the shed, but said this assistance was “minor.” Mr Flynn said the accused had denied knowledge of the guns in interview.
Mr McNaughton had lived in Ireland all his life, was currently out of work with a back injury and was supporting his elderly mother.
The accused was presumed innocent and would be in custody for some time if refused bail, Mr Flynn said.
Mr McNaugthon told the court he could stay at his mother’s address if granted bail.
“I have no intention of absconding,” he said. “Any conditions, I will comply with. I’ll comply with whatever is required of me.”
Gda O’Carroll said there were no conditions that would assuage his fears.
Judge Cronin refused bail based on the garda concerns that the accused would not stand trial if released. She remanded him in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on September 4.
A second man in his 30s was arrested and remains in garda custody