A Belfast man played an “integral” role in acquiring and disposing of cars used in the bid to kill a top PSNI detective, the High Court has heard.
Prosecutors claimed the vehicles were purchased, stored and then supplied to others involved in the gun attack on DCI John Caldwell on the directions of 44-year-old Alan Lundy.
Lundy, of Flax Street in the Ardoyne district, is one of eight men charged with the attempted murder.
DCI Caldwell was shot and seriously wounded in front of his son just after he had finished coaching a youth football team at sports facilities in Omagh, Co Tyrone on February 22 last year.
Two men wearing dark waterproof clothing approached him and opened fire, striking him several times.
The gunmen made their getaway in a Ford Fiesta, fitted with false number plates and discovered burnt out later that night, before switching to another car.
Although the New IRA claimed responsibility for the attempted assassination, detectives believe other criminal factions joined forces with the dissident republican grouping to target someone regarded as their joint enemy.
Lundy also faces charges of directing terrorism and preparation of terrorist acts in connection with the attack.
As he mounted an application for bail, a Crown lawyer claimed he took part in meetings with other key figures which led to significant IRA operational activity related to the shooting.
“The prosecution case is that Alan Lundy was integral to the acquisition, storage, transport and disposal of vehicles used in the attack on DCI Caldwell,” she said.
“These vehicles were either purchased or stored in Belfast before being supplied to those involved in the attack in Tyrone, on the direction of Alan Lundy.”
In a circumstantial case, it was alleged that the meetings arranged by a short phone call followed a similar pattern:
Those attending travelled to the agreed location, left their mobiles behind in houses or vehicles and engaged in conversation by “walk and talk”.
Participants held leadership roles, discussing operational plans which were then passed on to others carrying out the activities in Belfast and Co Tyrone.
Counsel revealed that seven phones were seized during a search of Lundy’s property, but no passcodes for the devices were provided.
She claimed the circumstances related to the accused added a further “sinister” dimension to the attack.
But defence barrister Michael Forde challenged the strength of the evidence to connect Lundy to any of the charges.
“This is an inherently weak case,” he submitted.
“All the prosecution has are fragile threads to a number of contacts over a period of months with two (other) individuals who have been charged
“They don’t know what was said during those discussions, and there’s no direct evidence linking the applicant to the various vehicles involved or the firearms.”
Reserving judgment on Lundy’s bid to be released on bail, Mr Justice O’Hara pledged to give his decision as soon as possible.