Northern couple charged over pipe bombs find

A husband and wife appeared in court in the north today on charges linked to the discovery of pipe bombs.

A husband and wife appeared in court in the north today on charges linked to the discovery of pipe bombs.

Mr Darren Purdy (30) and his 33-year-old wife Mrs Linda Purdy appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court charged with possession of three pipe bombs, with intent to endanger life as well as a revolver and ammunition on February 15th.

The couple - from Carn Crescent, New Mossley, on the northern outskirts of Belfast - also faced the charge of having a record or documents contrary to the emergency provisions act, namely a list of names.

A detective sergeant told resident magistrate Mr John Cleary he believed he could connect both to the charges.

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He said Mr Purdy, a gardener, had made no comment when charged over the pipe bombs, but replied: "I was forced to hold that stuff", when charged with possession of the firearm.

To the third charge, Mr Purdy was alleged to have replied: "That must have been the stuff I was given."

Mrs Purdy, an unemployed shopkeeper, was alleged to have replied to all three charges: "It wasn't in my knowledge that anything like this was in my house."

She was remanded in custody to appear again by video link on March 14th. Her husband was remanded in custody also to appear by video link on March 16th.

Another man appeared at the same court on an unconnected charge of possessing ammunition. Mr Thomas Cochrane (24) a plumber from Mount Vernon House, North Belfast was charged with having 24 rounds of 0.380 ammunition on February 16th.

PA