By JOHN FALLON in Castlerea
A 33-year old roofer from Dublin has been remanded in custody charged with the possession of three loaded pistols in his van when he was stopped by gardai in Castlerea in Roscommon on Wednesday night.
Gary Bligh, a father of three from 101 Rathvilly Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, faces a maximum of 14 years in prison if he is convicted of the charges.
Bligh appeared before a special sitting of Castlerea District Court this evening where a bail application was refused by Judge James Faughnan.
Garda Keith O’Brien gave evidence of arresting Bligh at 8.45pm on Wednesday night and charging him at 6.35pm this evening. Bligh made no reply to the six charges.
He is charged with possessing two Sig Sauer P226 pistols and one Sig Sauer P228 pistols. He is also charged with possessing 16 9mm parabellum rounds in two of the firearms and 15 9mm parabellum rounds in the other.
Garda O’Brien said that Bligh was the sole occupant of the van when he stopped it on Main Street in Castlerea on Wednesday night.
He told Judge Faughnan that the firearms were discovered in a small holdall in the van.
Bligh, dressed in jeans, runners and a striped jumper, wept several times during the half hour hearing. He told Judge Faughnan that he would adhere to any bail conditions.
His solicitor, Mary Mullarkey, made an application for bail but Sgt. Paddy McGirl objected, outlining a number of reasons for opposing bail.
Judge Faughnan remanded Bligh in custody but said he would re-examine the bail application at a special sitting of Castlerea District Court next Wednesday morning
