Two men have appeared in court on charges including causing false bomb hoaxes at a Sinn Féin office in Belfast and at the homes of two party members.
The pair appeared together in the dock of Belfast Crown Court where they were charged with, and denied, offences dating back to 2019 and 2020.
Finton Geraghty (45) from Ivy Hill in Lisburn was charged that on July 1 2019 he communicated false information to a priest with the intention of inducing a false belief that “a bomb or other thing liable to explode or ignite” was present at the homes of Sinn Finn MP John Finucane and councillor Seanna Walsh.
He pleaded “not guilty”.
Co-accused Christopher Maxwell, from Blackstaff Mews in Belfast, was charged with a similar office, namely that on August 9, 2020 he communicated false information to a member of staff at the Sinn Fein office at Connolly House on the Falls Road that “a bomb or other thing liable to explode or ignite” was present at the premises.
Maxwell, who turns 47 on Friday, denied both this charge and an additional two charges.
He was charged with causing a bomb hoax by placing an article at Connolly House with the intention of inducing a belief that it was likely to explode or ignite on August 9 2020.
The pair were also jointly charged that on July 11 2019 they communicated false information to a PSNI operator that a device was present at the Avoneil Leisure Centre in Belfast.
Both men entered “not guilty” pleas.
A defence barrister told Judge Gordon Kerr KC that the case "will depend heavily on video and audio material", some of which has not yet been received from the Crown.
No date for a trial was set but Judge Kerr said he would review the case on May 22.