An Old Bailey jury retired today to consider its verdicts in the trial of three Irishmen accused of plotting a "Real IRA" bombing campaign inBritain.
Brothers Mr Robert Hulme (23) and Mr Aiden Hulme (25), and Mr Noel Maguire (34), have denied conspiring to cause explosions between January 1st and November 15th, 2001.
Two other men, Mr James McCormack (34) and Mr John Hannan (20), have admitted the charge.
The prosecution alleges that the three defendants were members of a "Real IRA" cell responsible for planning three bombs that went off in Britain during 2001.
The first explosion was at BBC Television Centre, west London, in March; the next at Ealing, also west London, in August; and the last in Birmingham in November.
Jurors have been warned by the judge not to allow repulsion for terrorist bombings to affect their judgment. He added that having sympathy for the republican cause "does not begin to prove guilt. Individual views on the Irish situation may vary enormously.
"Republican views on their own are no proof of guilt".
The judge also warned against allowing anti-Irish prejudice to affect their judgment. "Evidence is what counts, not prejudice of any kind".