'Caught red-handed' - Judge refuses bail for man charged over gun in lunchbox
A man charged with possessing a loaded semi-automatic pistol hidden in a lunchbox, ammunition, drugs and money laundering has been refused bail and remanded in custody.
Sean McGlone (28), of Beechwood Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth appeared before Judge Gerry Jones at Dundalk District Court on Wednesday.
He is charged with possessing a 9mm calibre semi-automatic pistol with a magazine of six live rounds and five rounds of ammunition at his home address on Monday, June 2.
He is also charged with possession of €4,200 worth of cocaine and €480 of cannabis and the same drugs for sale or supply.
He is further charged with money laundering in excess of €200,000 via his Revolut account.
Detective Garda Dean Hyland of Drogheda Garda Station gave evidence he arrested the accused at 6.33pm at Drogheda Garda Station and charged him at 6.42pm. He said the accused made no reply after caution.
Det Gda Hyland said due to the seriousness of the alleged offences and that the accused is considered a flight risk he made an application to remand the accused in custody.
Outlining the alleged facts of the case, Det Gda Hyland said members of the Divisional Drugs Unit in Drogheda searched a cabin behind the accused's mother's home where the accused was the sole occupant on Monday, June 2.
Suspected cocaine and cannabis was discovered as well as drugs paraphernalia including a vacuum bag sealer and plastic bags.
He said the accused was present when the search warrant was executed.
A search of the exterior of the cabin resulted in the discovery of a blue lunchbox in a black bag where the loaded semi-automatic pistol was hidden along with a further five rounds of ammunition.
Two mobile phones and €3,000 in cash were discovered underneath a mattress in the cabin.
The accused was arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act of enhancing a criminal organisation, Det Gda Hyland told the court.
Det Gda Hyland said the accused was interviewed five times and claimed the drugs were for his own use and that he had no knowledge of the firearm.
'He refused to account for the money laundering and refused to co-operate with giving the pin numbers for his mobile phones,' said Det Gda Hyland.
Det Gda Hyland said there is likely to be further charges put to the accused.
Defence solicitor Sean Allen said the accused is 'embedded in the community and has family' in Drogheda and said the accused 'will comply with any bail conditions imposed,' if the accused is granted bail.
However, refusing bail, Judge Jones said 'He was caught red-handed as far as I am concerned and he was present when the firearm and drugs were discovered.'
The accused was remanded in custody to appear before Drogheda District Court on Monday, June 9.
Dressed in a black hoodie and black jeans, the accused did not address the court during the hearing.
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