A court in Derry was told yesterday two local men who were arrested in the Brandywell area of the city on Sunday night following the discovery of primed mortar bombs in a van which was stopped by police officers in a planned operation, had been under police surveillance for a five-minute period prior to their arrest.
The disclosure was made by a detective constable who opposed bail being granted to the defendants. Immediately after the remand hearing at the Bishop Street Magistrate’s Court there were minor scuffles between supporters of the defendants and members of the PSNI’s tactical support group outside the court building.
Seamus McLaughlin (35), Eastway, Creggan, and Gary McDaid (37), Glenowen Park, are jointly charged with conspiring to cause an explosion with four improvised mortar devices and a pipe bomb likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in either the UK or Republic. They are also charged with possessing four improvised mortar bombs and a pipe bomb and with possessing articles for use in terrorism, namely a van for a purpose connected with an act of terrorism.
Refusing bail, District Judge Barney McElholm said although both defendants had only minor and limited criminal records, he believed they would flee across the Border if released on bail.
The defendants will appear in court again for a video link hearing on March 28th.