TWO Enniskillen men have been remanded in custody over bomb found in Co Louth.
Appearing via videolink at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Friday was Emmett Maguire (43) of Station Road and Rory Martin Logan (32) of Ross Close.
The two men face the same charges of preparing terrorist acts and possession of explosives in suspicious circumstances and to endanger life.
A detective inspector said he could connect the defendants to the charges.
The charges relate to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found at a disused car park adjacent to Junction 20, R132, Dromad, Co. Louth.
Limited facts of the investigation were disclosed in court following questions by the defence counsel about the connection of the charges.
The pair are alleged to have left Enniskillen on June 8 and travelled to Co. Cavan in order to collect the radio controlled IED, before placing it in the disused car park in Co. Louth.
The inspector confirmed that CCTV shown Logan leaving his house that morning on foot and believed he got into the car of Maguire, who was parked nearby.
It was confirmed by the police inspector that on the day Logan texts Maguire asking if he was ready, with the defendant replying with a ‘thumbs up emoji’.
He added that the pair had left their phones turned on in Enniskillen, but they did not become active again until the men returned.
The police seized the car used and confirmed that no explosive forensics were found, but noted that the device was ‘wrapped up’.
Speaking on the movements, it was noted that the SatNav used in the car showed the journey taken by the defendants, adding that they used ‘anti-surveillance’ movements such as multiple U-turns and driving by the cemetery multiple times before parking to avoid detection.
When asked by the defence counsel if there was any evidence linking the defendants to the planting of the device, the inspector said that the car was seen parking and remaining still for 37 seconds before the passenger was seen getting out and back in, with the device appearing after.
The defence counsel further questioned the charge of endangering life, with the police inspector addressing the question saying that the device was designed with high explosive charge, intended to damage armoured vehicles.
District Judge Ted Magill said there was sufficient evidence to connect and remanded the two men to appear by videolink to Enniskillen Magistrates Court on July 29.
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