Neil Lennon bomb plot trial: accused ‘bought items while out with mother’

AN ACCUSED in the Neil Lennon bomb plot trial allegedly bought items found in suspect packages while shopping with his mother, a court has heard.

Neil McKenzie was said to have purchased the goods from a discount store in Stevenston, Ayrshire, last April.

This was claimed to have taken place the day before a suspicious parcel was discovered intended for QC Paul McBride.

McKenzie, 42, and Trevor Muirhead, 43, are charged with plotting to kill Celtic manager mr Lennon, Mr McBride and former MSP Trish Godman.

Careene Sinclair – a sales assistant at the B+M store in Stevenston – yesterday gave evidence at the trial at the High Court in Glasgow. She recalled how police were interested in a transaction that took place on 14 April last year.

The 23-year-old identified McKenzie after being shown photographs by officers of that day in the store.

Miss Sinclair told the trial she knew McKenzie and had also gone to school with his son, Grant, in Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

The jury was then shown CCTV footage from the B+M shop and the witness picked out McKenzie and his mother waiting to be served by her.

The accused was seen lifting a large red suitcase and prosecutor Tim Niven Smith asked what else was bought. Miss Sinclair said a travel bottle, a digital sports watch and envelopes. She told how she recalled the transaction based on later seeing a receipt.

Mr Niven-Smith then asked: “Was he someone who came into the store regularly?” Miss Sinclair replied: “The past six months.”

Miss Sinclair added he would come in on a Thursday or Friday, usually with his mother.

Mr Niven-Smith then said: “Did you form any impression who was paying for transactions?” She replied: “His mother.”

The advocate depute: “Did you form any opinion why a Thursday or Friday?” Miss Sinclair: “Pension day, I don’t know.”

The trial also heard an individual bought a quantity of nails the same day from a B&Q store nearby. DC Julie Matthews – who viewed CCTV from both premises – said she believed it was the same man she had seen in the B+M shop.

The court was previously told how a suspect package marked for Mr McBride was discovered in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, on 15 April. Mr Lennon and former Labour politician Mrs Godman were also sent suspicious pieces of mail, which included a bottle with liquid, a timer and nails in each.

Muirhead and McKenzie are alleged to have planned to “assault and murder” their three intended victims between 1 March and 15 April last year.

The charge claims the pair sent another suspected bomb to the offices of Cairde Na Heirann. Muirhead and McKenzie face an alternative allegation contrary to the Explosive Substances Act of “unlawfully and maliciously conspiring” to endanger life or cause serious injury.

The pair face a separate allegation of dispatching an item on 3 March to Neil Lennon at Celtic Park with the intention of inducing him to believe that it would “explode or ignite”.

Muirhead and McKenzie are also accused to have made and possessed triacetone triperoxide with the intent to endanger life. Muirhead and McKenzie are further accused on 9 May in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, of threatening to plant an Improvised Explosive Device outside a police station knowing the bomb allegations were being investigated.

They deny all charges. The trial continues.