Husband and wife appear in Belfast court

A husband and wife have appeared in court in Northern Ireland today on charges

linked to the discovery of pipe bombs.

Darren Purdy, 30, and his 33-year-old wife Linda appeared before Belfast

Magistrates Court charged with possession of three pipe bombs, with intent to

endanger life as well as a revolver and ammunition on February 15.

The couple of Carncrescent, New Mossley, on the northern outskirts of Belfast,

also faced the charge of having a record or documents contrary to the Emergency Provisions Act, namely a list of names.

A detective sergeant told resident magistrate John Cleary he believed he could

connect both to the charges.

He said that gardener Darren Purdy said nothing when charged over the pipe

bombs, but replied: "I was forced to hold that stuff", when charged with

possession of the firearm.

To the third charge, he was alleged to have replied: "That must have been the

stuff I was given".

Linda Purdy, an unemployed shopkeeper, was alleged to have replied to all

three charges: "It wasn't in my knowledge that anything like this was in my

house".

She was remanded in custody to appear again by video link on March 14. Her

husband was remanded in custody also to appear by video link on March 16.