The attempted murder of two police officers in Strabane was part of a “pre-planned attack” with the intent to kill, a court has heard.
Charlie Love, 30, of Bridge Street, Strabane, is charged in connection with a bomb attack on police in the County Tyrone town on 17 November 2022.
He has denied two counts of attempting to murder members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), one count of causing an explosion likely to endanger life and one count of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life.
His partner, Symone Murphy, 28, of the same address, also appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, charged with withholding information which might assist terrorists.
Prosecutor Ciaran Murphy KC told the court that Mr Love’s DNA “was all over the device” which was found at the scene.
The prosecution said that on the day in question a police patrol in the town experienced what was described as “a large flash and a loud bang” as their vehicle passed through the Mount Carmel Heights area of the town.
Detectives had previously said officers discovered a crater at a building site and during follow up searches and further forensic tests showed a military grade explosive was used.
A command wire leading to what police believe was a firing point close to a tree stump was also found.
Forensic testing of several items – including the trigger of the firing mechanism, the drill, the command wire closest to the firing mechanism and a metal post at the site of the explosion – all revealed a DNA profile matching that of Mr Love, the court heard.
A drill and wiring, which detectives believe to be the trigger mechanism, was also discovered.
Mr Love was arrested in the Derry Road the day after the alleged incident and over the course of four interviews, he gave a “no comment” response when questions were put to him.
He was released on 20 November, but was further arrested on 13 December when DNA results were provided.
During the course of further interviews, Mr Love again refused to answer any questions.
When the DNA results were put to him, he provided a prepared statement in which he claimed that he was approached by a man involved with Saoradh, which is a political party considered by the PSNI as being linked to the New IRA, on 17 November 2022.
In his statement, Mr Love said this man asked him to do “a favour” which was to take a drill in a bag to waste ground at Mount Carmel Heights.
It was also the prosecution’s case that Ms Murphy was aware that Mr Love was not at their property at the time of the explosion.
Adding that she was undoubtedly aware that the whereabouts of Mr Love would have been relevant to the subsequent police investigation.
The trial continues.
