A FORENSIC expert who examined the remains of a bomb planted under a policeman's vehicle located a DNA profile matching that of Co Fermanagh man Peter Granaghan, a court has heard.
The expert gave evidence at Belfast Crown Court, where a non-jury trial arising from the discovery of the mercury tilt-switch device is being held.
An off-duty police officer discovered the device - which had been attached to the underside of his Cherokee jeep - after playing golf on June 1 2019.
Army personnel were tasked to the carpark of Shandon Golf Club in east Belfast, where they carried out a controlled explosion.
In the aftermath of the discovery, components of the device were taken to the Forensic Science laboratory, where they underwent analysis.
It's the Crown's case that Granaghan's DNA was located on a piece of wire and a battery connector, which a prosecution barrister said "indicates he was in possession of and involved with the device when it was being made".
The 41-year old from Blackroad Park in Belleek was arrested and charged with attempting to murder a serving member of the PSNI and both making and possessing explosives with intent to endanger life.
He has denied all three charges.
The forensic scientist said he swabbed a number of component items he received from the 'disrupted device' and said "seven areas were sampled for DNA analysis".
"No profiles were obtained from six of the samples," he said.
"One sample, from the wires and battery connector, gave a partial profile matching that of Peter Granaghan."
When asked to further explain, he said: "In order to help the court evaluate this finding, I have considered two propositions.
"One that the DNA came from Peter Granaghan, and two that the DNA came from an unknown, unrelated individual.
"A calculation made with reference to Northern Ireland population survey data shows that this finding is at least one billion times more likely to arise under the first proposition - that is that the DNA came from Peter Granaghan."
A crime scene officer who attended the car park on June 1, 2019 and who removed items from the scene also confirmed to the court the presence of the explosive substance TNT, which was packed into the device.
The witness also told the court forensic swabs were taken from Granaghan's home and car to look for "explosive traces" - both of which produced "negative results".
He was also asked about tools removed from Granaghan's home which were "subject to analysis to see if they matched any of the bits and pieces removed from the scene" and confirmed they also produced negative results.
The trial resumes tomorrow.
