Two Men to Face Special Criminal Court Over Firearms and Organised Crime Charges Linked to Ardee
By ArdeePost Reporter
ARDEE, CO LOUTH — Two men are set to stand trial before the Special Criminal Court in connection with serious firearms offences and suspected involvement in organised criminal activity in Ardee. The case involves a large cache of weapon components, ammunition, and alleged money laundering offences.
Two men are set to stand trial before the Special Criminal Court in connection with serious firearms offences and suspected involvement in organised criminal activity in Ardee. The case involves a large cache of weapon components, ammunition, and alleged money laundering offences.
Mark McCourt (34), of Edencrieve, Newry, Co Down, and Conor O’Brien (28), of Kilpatrick, Ardee, Co Louth, are jointly charged with 24 counts under the Firearms Act. The charges stem from the discovery of multiple semi-automatic weapon parts and hundreds of rounds of ammunition on July 19, 2024, at John Street, Blackstick, Ardee.
The alleged offences include possession of parts for .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, as well as components for pistols such as Lugers and Sig Sauers. The men are also accused of possessing pistol magazines and a significant quantity of ammunition.
In addition to the firearms charges, Conor O’Brien faces several serious additional counts:
- Organised Crime Involvement: It is alleged that between February 10, 2023, and July 19, 2024, O’Brien knowingly participated in or contributed to activity that was intended to facilitate a criminal organisation in importing firearms and ammunition into the Republic of Ireland.
- Money Laundering: O’Brien is also charged under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act. On July 19, 2024, he allegedly possessed €7,450 and 20 Canadian dollars believed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. He faces a second count for the alleged possession of €9,980 in suspected criminal proceeds at an address in Hazelbrook Square, Dublin 14.
At a hearing this week, Ms Justice Karen O’Connor of the Special Criminal Court granted an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have both men tried before the three-judge, non-jury court, which handles high-level cases involving organised crime and terrorism.
Neither McCourt nor O’Brien was present for the hearing, but they will be required to appear before the Special Criminal Court for proceedings scheduled to begin in June.
The Special Criminal Court operates without a jury due to concerns around jury intimidation and the complexity of cases involving organised crime syndicates. The use of this court underscores the seriousness of the charges and the potential link to broader criminal networks.
The investigation, led by Gardaí in Louth, is ongoing. Authorities continue to examine the circumstances around the weapons cache and financial transactions, which may have international dimensions.
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