From left, Damien Harkin, Jason Ceulemans and Neil Hegarty.
Three Derry men in their 40s will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to a number of offences including having a bomb in the city over a year ago.
Jason Ceulemans (42), from Lecky Road, Damien Harkin (48), of Westland Avenue and Neil Hegarty (49), from Sackville Court, admitted having an “explosively formed projectile-type improvised device” when they appeared Belfast Crown Court.
They also pleaded guilty to having two walkie talkies and a torch for a terrorist purpose on 6 December, 2012.
The device was found in the footwell of the rear passenger seat of the car they were travelling in when it was stopped by police at Westway in the Creggan area of the city.
Army technical officers confirmed it was viable and contained 200g of Semtex.
A previous court hearing was told the three accused did not intend using the device themselves, but there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction that their possession was on a “second limb” basis.
A prosecution lawyer said in view of the guilty pleas, two other charges, one of conspiracy to cause an explosion and, secondly, of possessing it under suspicious circumstances, should be allowed to remain on the books.
All three were remanded in custody to appear again next month for sentencing.
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