I am Pontius Pilate of Neil Lennon case, says Donald Findlay

DONALD Findlay, QC, compared himself to Pontius Pilate yesterday, as a man accused of conspiring to kill the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, told a court he wanted a different solicitor to represent him.

Two Ayrshire men, Trevor Muirhead, 43, and Neil McKenzie, 42, are accused of plotting to kill Mr Lennon, former MSP Trish Godman, Paul McBride, QC, and various people in the premises of Cairde Na Heireann in Glasgow, by sending improvised explosive devices.

The pair denied all charges when they appeared at Glasgow High Court last month, and a trial was set for November.

Mr Findlay, representing McKenzie, said his client now wanted to instruct solicitor Matthew Berlow to represent him, instead of Brian McCluskey.

Delivering the news yesterday, Mr Findlay compared himself to the man who presided over the trial of Jesus Christ and washed his hands of responsibility at his trial – and suggested that Lord Glennie was Solomon, the biblical wise judge.

Mr Findlay said: “Mr McCluskey has legal aid and no instructions, and Mr Berlow has instructions and no legal aid. I am merely Pontius Pilate at the moment.

He added: “Stretching the biblical analogy a tad far, if I’m Pontius Pilate, then my lord is Solomon.”

Lord Glennie then asked McKenzie whom he wanted to represent him, and the accused replied: “Mr Berlow.” The case was continued until next week to sort out the legal aid.

McKenzie, from Saltcoats, and Muirhead, from Kilwinning, are accused of sending Mr Lennon a package they allegedly believed was an improvised explosive device, capable of igniting and exploding, causing severe injury and death to another person.

It is alleged that in the package, sent to Celtic’s training centre in Lennoxtown, were a plastic bottle containing triacetone triperoxide with a wire attached and a plastic bag containing a bag of nails and a watch component.

They are charged with sending similar devices to Ms Godman at an address in Bridge of Weir and to Cairde Na Heireann.

It is alleged the package sent to Mr McBride at Advocates’ Library, Parliament House, Edinburgh, comprised a plastic bottle containing petrol, with wire attached, a plastic glove, nails and a watch component.

They are charged with sending the devices with the intention that the contents would ignite and explode when opened, causing severe injury and death.

It is also alleged the pair bought nails, envelopes, travel bottles and digital sports watches, and induced another man to buy cream peroxide.

They face an alternative charge that they conspired to cause an explosion “likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property”.