A Derry man has faced a court on charges linked to the New IRA and its bombmaking capabilities.
Kieran McCool (52|), from Ballymagowan Gardens in Creggan, faced a number of charges under the Terorrism Act when he appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court for a first remand hearing.
They include preparatory acts of terrorism, possession of explosives with intent and possession of articles likely to be of use to terrorists.
McCool was arrested at his home on Thursday around 6 am by detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorist Investigation Unit.
He was detained as part of Operation Ledging, a discrete, standalone strand of Operation Arbacia, which is looking specifically at the Derry brigade of the New IRA and its bomb-making activities as well as the group’s storage of explosive devices and equipment.
Operation Arbacia was a hi-tech MI% bugging operation against the leadership of the New IRA when its ‘Army Executive’ and ‘Army Council’ met in February and June last year at rented cottages which led to the arrest and charging of eight men and two women with terror offences.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard that an explosive substance used in semtex, timer switches and black gloves have been seized.
A detective said he believed there was a correlation between the materials found over the last four years and a number of improvised explosive devices discovered in Strabane, Derry and Belfast between 2017 and 2020.
Defence barrister Joe Brolly said the evidence was “remarkably flimsy and untenable” and it was “a highly speculative case that’s going nowhere”.
He said his client had previously been arrested following a number of searches but was released unconditionally.
Police opposed bail believing the accused was at risk of reoffending and a flight risk with access to a large terrorist organisation.
However, the defence said Mr McCool has no passport, a serious spinal injury, needs his wounds dressed in hospital every day and last travelled 12 years ago.
The judge said she was concerned about the “gravity of the alleged offences”, describing them as serious.
McCool was remanded in custody to Maghaberry prison to appear again next month.
For the next two weeks, McCool will be put in isolation within the high security prison because of the Cornavirus pandemic.
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