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| Derry mortar van contained bomb to destroy evidence, court told | Derry mortar van contained bomb to destroy evidence, court told |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A republican dissident gang was so well prepared for a mortar attack on a Derry police station that it also had a blast incendiary device in a van to destroy all evidence at the weapons' firing point, a court has been told. | A republican dissident gang was so well prepared for a mortar attack on a Derry police station that it also had a blast incendiary device in a van to destroy all evidence at the weapons' firing point, a court has been told. |
| Evidence of a carefully planned but ultimately thwarted terrorist attack was heard as two men appeared at Derry magistrates court charged in connection with the discovery of four primed mortar bombs on Sunday. | Evidence of a carefully planned but ultimately thwarted terrorist attack was heard as two men appeared at Derry magistrates court charged in connection with the discovery of four primed mortar bombs on Sunday. |
| Gary McDaid and Seamus McLaughlin, both of Derry, were refused bail. They are charged with having explosives with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to cause an explosion and having a van for terrorist purposes. | Gary McDaid and Seamus McLaughlin, both of Derry, were refused bail. They are charged with having explosives with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to cause an explosion and having a van for terrorist purposes. |
| Refusing bail, the judge said the men posed a serious risk to society. They were arrested when police stopped a van and a motorcycle travelling directly behind it during a security operation in the Brandywell area of Derry. | Refusing bail, the judge said the men posed a serious risk to society. They were arrested when police stopped a van and a motorcycle travelling directly behind it during a security operation in the Brandywell area of Derry. |
| The mortars were found in the white van and the roof of the vehicle had been cut back to allow the mortars to be fired. A senior police commander in the city said their target had been one of Derry's police stations. | The mortars were found in the white van and the roof of the vehicle had been cut back to allow the mortars to be fired. A senior police commander in the city said their target had been one of Derry's police stations. |
| McDaid, 37, and McLaughlin, 35, waved to supporters as they were put in the dock. There was a heavy security presence around the courthouse for the short hearing. | McDaid, 37, and McLaughlin, 35, waved to supporters as they were put in the dock. There was a heavy security presence around the courthouse for the short hearing. |
| A detective constable told the court she believed she could connect the defendants with the charges. She said the driver of the van was McLaughlin and the motorcycle rider McDaid. | A detective constable told the court she believed she could connect the defendants with the charges. She said the driver of the van was McLaughlin and the motorcycle rider McDaid. |
| Both men were arrested under the Terrorism Act. A third man was arrested later but has since been released unconditionally. | Both men were arrested under the Terrorism Act. A third man was arrested later but has since been released unconditionally. |
| The detective said police searched the van and found four mortars in launch tubes, secured in a frame and ready for imminent deployment. The weapons contained substantial quantities of explosives. | The detective said police searched the van and found four mortars in launch tubes, secured in a frame and ready for imminent deployment. The weapons contained substantial quantities of explosives. |
| She said officers also found a blast incendiary device in the front passenger footwell of the van, that police suspected was intended to be used to destroy evidence after the deployment of the mortars. | She said officers also found a blast incendiary device in the front passenger footwell of the van, that police suspected was intended to be used to destroy evidence after the deployment of the mortars. |
| Police also found two kitchen timer units, two toggle switches attached to the timers in a plastic lunchbox-type container and a vehicle battery in the front passenger footwell. The driver's seat was covered in plastic. | Police also found two kitchen timer units, two toggle switches attached to the timers in a plastic lunchbox-type container and a vehicle battery in the front passenger footwell. The driver's seat was covered in plastic. |
| McLaughlin had refused to talk throughout the interview process in the Police Service of Northern Ireland's serious crime suite in Antrim and did not provide any account for his presence in the van or of the mortars. Nor could he explain the layers of clothing or the protective overshoes he was wearing. | McLaughlin had refused to talk throughout the interview process in the Police Service of Northern Ireland's serious crime suite in Antrim and did not provide any account for his presence in the van or of the mortars. Nor could he explain the layers of clothing or the protective overshoes he was wearing. |
| McDaid told police during an interview that he had been riding an old motorbike and was making his way back into Derry when he was stopped. He said he was going to get petrol, but there was no money in his possession. He also provided a partial account of how he obtained the motorbike and his whereabouts, but the court was told that police carried out inquiries regarding his movements and did not accept this to be a truthful account. | McDaid told police during an interview that he had been riding an old motorbike and was making his way back into Derry when he was stopped. He said he was going to get petrol, but there was no money in his possession. He also provided a partial account of how he obtained the motorbike and his whereabouts, but the court was told that police carried out inquiries regarding his movements and did not accept this to be a truthful account. |
| Defence solicitors said neither defendant had any relevant record, the police had only circumstantial evidence and there did not appear to be any scientific evidence at this stage. | Defence solicitors said neither defendant had any relevant record, the police had only circumstantial evidence and there did not appear to be any scientific evidence at this stage. |
| They said their clients would abide by any conditions set by the court and would appear for trial. | They said their clients would abide by any conditions set by the court and would appear for trial. |
| However, Judge Barney McElholm said there was a very strong circumstantial case that both were involved in serious terrorist activity and concluded that there was a risk of flight. He refusedbail and the two were remanded in custody at Maghaberry prison from where they will appear via videolink for their next court appearance on 28 March. As they were driven away from the courthouse a number of their supporters outside clapped and cheered. | However, Judge Barney McElholm said there was a very strong circumstantial case that both were involved in serious terrorist activity and concluded that there was a risk of flight. He refusedbail and the two were remanded in custody at Maghaberry prison from where they will appear via videolink for their next court appearance on 28 March. As they were driven away from the courthouse a number of their supporters outside clapped and cheered. |
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