Bomb accused fails to get bail

A Dundalk man charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion outside an Armagh police station in April failed to be granted bail by the Special Criminal Court today.

David Murphy was remanded in custody to appear before the court again in October.

Lawyers for the State today told the three-judge non-jury court there was “no objection in principle” to the granting of bail but because of the serious nature of the alleged offence, an independent surety of €20,000 was being requested as part of the bail conditions.

Mr Murphy (aged 30) with an address at Ashling Park, Cox’s Demesne, Dundalk, Co Louth is accused of “unlawfully and maliciously” conspiring with others to cause on explosion, of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury.

A Detective Inspector from the Special Detective Unit, told the court, of Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding, that the charge relates to an incident outside Crossmaglen Police Station in south Armagh on April 3 last.

A car containing an explosive device, composed of two cyclinders filled with petrol, was left outside the police station and a bomb warning was made to the Samaritans.

The court heard the device “failed to ignite”.

Mr Murphy has been in custody since he was charged in connection with the incident on May 6 earlier this year.

Lawyers for Mr Murphy said they were proposing an independent surety of €3,000 as part of the bail conditions, adding that their client was not “a man of means”, and had been in receipt of social welfare for a number of years.

The Special Criminal Court said it considered the sum of €20,000 euro “reasonable” but held that an independent surety of €15,000 would be suitable to obtain bail in this case.

The court remanded Mr Murphy in custody until October 5 in the new legal term.