Men remanded in custody over plot

Two men were remanded in custody yesterday over a dissident republican bomb plot.

Two men were remanded in custody yesterday over a dissident republican bomb plot.

Conan Murphy (23) and Philip Barney McKevitt (56) from Dundalk, Co Louth, were charged with unlawful possession of explosives after a raid on a suspected bomb factory last Saturday.

The Special Criminal Court heard Mr Murphy, of Plaster in the Mount Pleasant area of the town, replied “I am innocent” when initially informed of the charge.

At an earlier hearing, the court was told that Mr McKevitt was arrested at his house in Athaboys, on the north side of the town about five miles (8km) from the Border.

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Mr McKevitt had a bandage on the left side of his head and did not speak as he stood briefly as the charge was read out.