'PLOT TO ATTACK MOSQUES AND IPAS CENTRES'

Pair charged with bomb raps after cross-border anti-terrorism

- BY PAUL HEALY Crime Correspondent

A “VIOLENT” right-wing extremist group threatened on video to attack a Galway mosque, IPAS centres and hotels housing migrants around Ireland, a court has heard.

Garrett Pollock, 35, of Kilhorne Green, Annalong, Co Down, and Karolis Peckauskas, 38, of An Tobar, Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Louth, were brought before a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court yesterday.

The pair were charged with possession and control of explosives. The explosives were discovered by gardai and the PSNI in separate searches in Co Laois and Co Down - in a cross-border counter-terror operation.

Mr Peckauskas, who appeared in court dressed in a leather black jacket, is accused of possession of an explosive substance namely four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide.

Garda Joseph Fahy gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution - and said the accused said “I do not understand,” after being charged in the Garda station.

The court heard during the course of a bail hearing for Mr Pollock that gardai and the PSNI subsequently discovered in his possession explosive materials and a video of “masked men” threatening to attack specific targets.

Also found were a “manifesto” and evidence of the existence of a “right-wing violent extremist group” plotting to carry out an attack in Ireland.

In refusing bail, Judge Coady also described watching the video, which he said featured men wearing balaclavas standing behind a tricolour and speaking in a prepared statement of attacking the first mosque in Galway - and speaking of further attacks to mosques and IPAS centres around the country.