Overview
- Garrett Pollock, 35, and Karolis Peckauskas, 38, appeared at a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court charged with possession and control of explosives.
- Gardaí and the PSNI detailed a cross-border operation with searches in Co Laois and Co Down that uncovered explosive components, suspected incendiary devices, and documents described as a manifesto.
- Judge Andrew Cody said the video showed four men in balaclavas before a tricolour claiming responsibility for destroying a Galway mosque and threatening further attacks on mosques, IPAS centres, and hotels.
- Detective Garda Declan O’Connor told the court Pollock made recorded admissions to handling explosive components and to taking part in the video, which Gardaí said was found on a device and not believed to have been shared.
- Pollock was denied bail and remanded in custody to appear via video link next week, while Peckauskas, who did not seek bail and was assigned an interpreter, was also remanded; the defence said Pollock does not accept he is in the video.