Co Meath dissident republican terror suspect Darren Poleon. PIx: NORTHWEST NEWS PIX
TWO men accused of a bomb plot on a Dery hotel which was to host a PSNI open event last year are to stand trial next year.
Darren Poleon and Brian Walsh deny police claims they were planning to detonate a bomb hidden inside a fire extinguisher during the recruitment event at the Waterfoot hotel last year.
Poleon, 42, from Kells and Walsh, 35, from Dunshaughlin, both Co Meath, appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court on Monday at a non-jury Diplock hearing to be formally arraigned on terrorism charges.
They entered not guilty pleas to the four charges they each jointly face on the indictment.
They are jointly charged that on Tuesday, October 6, 2015, they prepared an act of terrorism by placing an improvised explosive device beside the Waterfoot Hotel in Derry.
The dissident suspects are also charged on the same date with possessing an improvised explosive device with intent to endanger life or cause damage to property and with conspiring to cause an explosion with an improvised explosive device.
They are also accused of having “a Satellite Navigation System, bolt cutters, a balaclava, binoculars, assorted gloves, hand held two-way radios, disguises, head torch and plastic adhesive tape connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism’’.
Both men were told their trial will take place in February next year and it is expected to last a fortnight.
The pair were remanded back into custody to the top security Maghaberry prison in Co Antrim.
Brian Walsh to stand trial next year over bomb plot at Derry hotel hosting PSNi event open day