Courts / Antrim / Report

50 litre Guinness keg bomb found in accused's car, prosecution tells trial

Date
2016-07-06
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Antrim
County
Antrim

Summary

In the Special Criminal Court, William Burns, 40, of Ardoyne, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of PETN and RDX, a 50‑litre Guinness keg bomb, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, an improvised detonation cord, a steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit. Prosecutor Paul Greene opened the trial by describing the 2014 incident at Kilcurry Church, Co. Louth, where two men drove a white transit van and a red Volkswagen Passat into a carpark off the N1. The van's IED was allegedly moved into Burns' boot. Gardaí later found the keg, plastic tubing with white powder, and an electric timer set for a thirty‑minute delay. The court will hear video evidence of the events and the subsequent search of Burns' vehicle. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 50 litre Guinness keg bomb found in accused's car, prosecution tells trial. Charges or matters: unlawful possession of explosive substances PETN and RDX; possession of adapted 50 litre beer keg; possession of 50 kg of ammonium nitrate homemade explosive; possession of improvised detonation cord; possession of improvised steel booster tube; possession of improvised time and power unit. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Case subjects

William Burns

Accused

Charges: unlawful possession of explosive substances PETN and RDX; possession of adapted 50 litre beer keg; possession of 50 kg of ammonium nitrate homemade explosive; possession of improvised detonation cord; possession of improvised steel booster tube; possession of improvised time and power unit (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
Residence
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Trial

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