Dunmurry police station automotive bomb accused in court docket after hijacked automobile explodes
Kieran Smyth, 66, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates’ Court on Saturday charged with a number of offences in relation to the incident, including attempted murder
Forensic officers gather evidence at the scene of a suspected car bomb attack on Dunmurry police station(Image: Getty Images)
A man has appeared in court charged with five offences over a car bomb attack on a police station near Belfast. A hijacked delivery car exploded outside Dunmurry police station last Saturday night as homes were being evacuated.
Kieran Smyth, 66, with an address at Beechmount Avenue in Belfast, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates’ Court on Saturday charged with a number of offences in relation to the incident, including the attempted murder of persons unknown.
The other offences are compelling a person to use a vehicle for an unlawful purpose; possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property; the possession of articles, namely a SIM card and phone, for use in an act of terrorism; and causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
Outlining a “truncated” version of the “extensive” investigation, a detective inspector told the court a delivery driver from a Chinese restaurant was threatened on Saturday night by two males after arriving in the Summerhill Park area in Twinbrook.
A bomb was put in the back of his car and the driver was told he had 30 minutes to get to Dunmurry police station before the bomb would go off.
When he arrived at the station, he raised the alarm, the court heard.
The detective outlined evidence to the court that a £10 top-up was purchased for the same number that rang the Chinese restaurant that Saturday at a Centra retail store on Beechmount Avenue. He revealed the subsequent transaction on the machine was a £20 top-up of a Monzo bank account linked to Smyth.
He stated that police had also secured CCTV footage from the location and the male who appears to execute those transactions – who he said can be seen donning a green hoodie with “Brazil” inscribed on it – was identified as Smyth by two police officers.
Phoenix Law’s Gavin Booth, representing Smyth, claimed there had been a “case of overcharging” and contended that all charges except possession of a SIM should be dismissed.
He suggested the “height of what they could say is Mr Smyth bought top-up for a phone”.
The judge expressed she was satisfied there was sufficient evidence to link the defendant to the charges.
There was no application for bail and a request for legal aid was approved.
The case is next scheduled at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court on Monday May 18 where Smyth is due to appear via videolink.
