A MAN CHARGED in connection with a major drug and assault weapons bust in Dublin has been denied bail.

Andrew McNaughton, 51, was arrested following a search by An Garda Síochána’s dedicated Dublin crime response team, which uncovered more than €770,000 worth of cannabis and two loaded assault rifles used by the US army and special forces.

The discovered was made inside a van in a large shed at his residence in Jordanstown, Oldtown, on Tuesday. The unemployed single man was denied bail when he appeared before Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court today.

McNaughton has been charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and with having it for sale or supply. Denying bail, the judge heard that the man was not likely to attend his trial based on the strength of the evidence.

Garda Brian O’Carroll told the hearing that officers entered the property pursuant to a search warrant. They located and seized 38.5kg of cannabis herb, valued at an estimated €772,000, and 70g of suspected cocaine, with an estimated value at €4,900.

The court heard that an AR-15, branded Colt M16A1, assault rifle magazine containing 22 rounds, a Heckler and Koch 416 assault rifle with a magazine containing 15 rounds of ammunition, and a further 98 rounds of ammunition.

Image of the seized weapons, provided by gardaí. Garda Press Office Garda Press Office

The drugs and guns were in a Nissan Primastar van parked in a locked shed on the property. O’Carroll stated that the AR-15 Colt M16 was standard issue for American military forces, and the Heckler and Koch gun was used by special forces worldwide, including Ireland’s Army Ranger Wing.

The garda claimed the man was an essential cog in an organised crime group; his shed was being used to store the illicit drugs, and he was allegedly charging rent to his co-accused for €1250 a month.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Paddy Flynn, instructed by solicitor Martin O’Donnell, the garda agreed the accused had not been charged with the guns, but “not at this juncture”.

He asserted that the man facilitated the movement, storage and transportation of the deadly weapons. He accepted the accused assisted gardaí by opening up the locked shed.

But O’Carroll believed the accused had played an integral part, “rather than just a facilitator, rather than just a patsy”.

Counsel stressed that McNaughton lived all his life in Ireland, that his father and brother were deceased, and he could live with his mother, who resides at a different address.

Flynn emphasised that his client, who had no prior convictions, was entitled to the presumption of innocence in this case and added that he faced a lengthy wait in custody, with dates in the Circuit Court now being set for 2027.

In his garda interview, the accused claimed not to know about the weapons, which he reiterated when he gave evidence at the bail hearing. Dressed in a red jumper, blue jeans and runners, he pleaded that he would abide by any conditions set down by the court.

He said he had been out of work for just over a year due to a back injury, but did not claim social welfare, and his only income came from the rent of his van.

He told Judge Cronin: “I have no intention of absconding.”

Legal aid was granted, and he was remanded in custody to appear again next for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. A second man, in his 30s, arrested during the operation, remains in Garda custody.