AN 18-YEAR-OLD youth has been denied bail after a loaded sub-machine gun and a silencer were found wrapped in a tea towel in a wheelie bin in Dublin.

Mark Skelly with an address at Bulfin House, Dublin 8 was charged with unlawful possession of a 9mm Ingram Mach pattern sub-machine gun, a sound suppressor or silencer, and one round of 9mm Luger ammunition, on 21 May at a house in Ballyfermot.

The charges were contrary to Section 27 of the Firearms Act and followed an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Special Crime Task force.

He was charged this afternoon and brought to appear before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court.

Detective Garda Donal Donoghue said the defendant made no reply when he was charged at Kilmainham station at 1.20pm today.

Objecting to bail, he said the offences can, on conviction, carry a sentence of up to 14 years.

He alleged Skelly was in control of the machine gun and silencer which were “wrapped in a tea towel”. He said they were moved to a house in Ballyfermot and placed in a bin.

Detective Garda Donoghue said there was one round of ammunition in the breach of the firearm. The defendant was not at the house at the time of the weapon seizure.

He agreed with Skelly’s barrister Donal Pattison that the investigation was ongoing and forensic analysis of the items seized had to be carried out.

Pleading for bail, the barrister proposed that his client could undertake to abide by strict terms including a curfew and residency conditions. He said Skelly would sign on daily at a garda station and provide his mobile phone number.

Judge Smyth said Skelly faced very serious charges and he was not disposed to granting bail.

Legal aid was granted after Judge Smyth was told the youth was unemployed and on social welfare.

He was remanded in custody to appear on 30 May at Cloverhill District Court.

Two men, aged 47 and 52, arrested at the time of the search were released by gardaí without charge from custody yesterday evening. Files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Comments are closed as legal proceedings are ongoing.