Northern Ireland

Man's palm print found on bags linked to ammunitions and explosives find

A man's palm print was found on bags linked to an ammunitions and explosives find, a non-jury trial has heard
A man's palm print was found on bags linked to an ammunitions and explosives find, a non-jury trial has heard A man's palm print was found on bags linked to an ammunitions and explosives find, a non-jury trial has heard

A MAN'S palm print was found on bags linked to an ammunitions and explosives find in west Belfast, a judge was told yesterday.

Kevin Anthony McLaughlin, from Ballymurphy Drive, appeared at Belfast Crown Court where he is standing trial on five offences linked to the find.

The 36-year-old has been charged with crimes including possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances, possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances and possessing ammunition designed to penetrate armour plating or body armour.

He denies the charges.

The non-jury Diplock trial heard that a property at Broom Close, off the Stewartstown Road, was searched on November 22 2015.

During the search, a large bag containing smaller bags was found. The bags held items including three mercury tilt switches, around 700 cartridges, detonators and an assault rifle magazine.

A Crown prosecutor told Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland that McLaughlin's palm print was found on two of the smaller bags.

McLaughlin was arrested in Ballymurphy in February 2017.

He was interviewed five times in two days but declined to answer any questions.

The court was told McLaughlin's defence will launch a 'no case to answer' application in the same court next week.

The case continues.