A man accused of murdering two soldiers refused to answer police questions because his solicitor was afraid their consultations were being monitored, a court has heard.

Three men being held over a suspected terrorism bomb-making plot tonight won the right to challenge police refusal to give assurances that their conversations with solicitors were not being secretly taped.

A court in the North has heard claims that a Co Derry solicitor tried to have a taxi driver who was injured in a shooting last year assassinated before he could speak to the police.

PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde is to be confronted next week over claims that the police secretly bugged a Co Derry solicitor during confidential meetings with his clients.