Woman denies claim made at Lennon bomb plot trial

The daughter of a man accused of plotting to murder Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon in a parcel-bomb plot told a court today that she never asked for peroxide to be bought on her behalf.

Gemma Muirhead (aged 18) said she had to stop working at a hairdresser’s after three weeks because she was allergic to peroxide, with the chemical making her throat swell up.

The High Court in Glasgow has previously heard evidence from her brother, Paul Millan, also a hairdresser, who said that their father, Trevor Muirhead, had asked him to buy peroxide, with the 23-year-old assuming it was for his sister.

Muirhead (aged 43) from Kilwinning, and Neil McKenzie (aged 42) from Saltcoats, both Ayrshire, are accused of plotting to kill Lennon, former MSP Trish Godman, the late QC Paul McBride and various members of the Irish Republican group Cairde Na hÉireann in Glasgow by sending improvised explosive devices to them.

The charges, all of which are denied by the two men, are alleged to have taken place between March 1 and May 12 last year.

Miss Muirhead told Advocate Depute Tim Niven-Smith: “I was allergic to the chemicals they were using – perming lotion and peroxide.

“It made my throat swell up and my face. I couldn’t speak.”

Mr Niven-Smith asked her: “Did you ask anyone to buy peroxide?”

She replied: “No.”

The trial, before Lord Turnbull, continues.