A father and son have appeared in court following the discovery of an arsenal of weapons hidden in a professionally constructed bunker and allegedly amassed, “right under the noses of police.”
Danny O’Callaghan (59) from Monog Road, Crossmaglen and Joseph Anthony O’Callaghan (32) from Hillcrest Way, Bessbrook are jointly charged with possessing ammunition and explosives consisting of 50 calibre and hollow point rounds, .380 inch black cartridges and self-loading or pump-action smooth bore rifle and a pistol.
Also a smoothbore revolver firearm other than one chambered for 9mm. rimfire cartridges or a muzzle-loading firearm and a blank firing revolver.
There are also charged with having nine firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury and without a firearms certificate.
A detective inspector told Newry Magistrates Court on Friday that on October 30, 2023 an intelligence-led search was carried out on a professionally built hide on land owned by Danny O’Callaghan.
This contained a large container set into concrete and covered with rubble and a stone slab.
When opened “an arsenal of weaponry” was discovered.
The inspector said, “This included two sawn-off shotguns and a Glock (handgun) which had been adapted to allow for automatic fire allowing repeated shooting when the trigger is pulled once. There were in excess of 2000 rounds of ammunition. The firearms were in individual bags marked such as ‘Glock plus kit’ containing gloves and balaclavas.”
The arrest came about when a forensic link to a firearms cache was discovered including a full DNA profile for Joseph O’Callaghan on the grip of the adapted Glock
DNA linked to Danny O’Callaghan was located on a glove in a bag containing a revolver.
The inspector said, “The hide was sophisticated and professional work was used in its construction on Danny O’Callaghan’s land. He has a CCTV system with a camera looking directly onto the entrance of the hide. There is nothing else of note in the surrounding area.”
A search of his house the month before the firearms were recovered found Cartridge Discharge Residue on a balaclava although this is not linked to seizure.
The court heard, “Neither accused provided any account or explanation and refused to answer all questions.”
Objecting to bail the inspector pointed to potential harm to others as, “All weapons are lethal but the assault rifle and a modified Glock can only be intended to cause serious harm and death. They were packed like individual grab-bags. This is a sophisticated organised crime gang to have accumulated this level of firearms and they have done that under the noses of police. We did not know it was there. They have been able to amass this arsenal without us being able to stop or be aware of it.”
Defence counsel Patrick Taggart said there was no relevant convictions and the evidence is weak.
He further suggested the discovery was indicative of a “historic arms dump” which lay unknown to the accused.
While District Judge Eammon King held “The sole purpose of weapons such as this is involvement in criminality of the highest level, but I believe bail can be granted.”
This was set at £2500 each with similar cash sureties and an instruction to report weekly to police.
However they will remain in custody as the prosecution are appealing the granting of bail at the High Court.