Neil Lennon ‘parcel bomb’ trial: Police bugged car of accused

ONE of the men accused of plotting to kill Neil Lennnon had his car bugged by police, a court has been told.

Donald Findlay QC, representing Neil McKenzie, said police had “sneaked away” his client’s car and “planted a bug in it” during cross-examination of a prosecution witness today.

A detective constable who was part of a team of surveillance officers was carrying out observations on McKenzie in May last year, the trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard.

The officer, who Strathclyde Police have asked not be named, told the court she had become aware of the covert device at a later stage in the operation.

Mr Findlay asked her: “You now know that in relation to May 5, when you were following Mr McKenzie, there was other covert surveillance going on at the same time? Police sneaked away his car and planted a bug in it?”

She said: “I now know the vehicle had been taken away, but I wasn’t told the date.”

Mr Findlay asked her: “Do you know if the bug had been planted or not?”

She replied: “I believe it had.”

She explained that she had not been told about the bug, saying: “It was information we didn’t need to know.”

McKenzie, 42, is accused along with Trevor Muirhead, 43, of conspiring to murder Mr Lennon, ex-MSP Trish Godman and the late Paul McBride QC in an explosives plot, as well as various people in the premises of Irish Republican organisation Cairde Na Heireann.

It is alleged they sent improvised explosive devices to them between March 1 and April 15 last year, and it is also alleged they believed the devices were capable of exploding.

The pair face an alternative charge of conspiring to cause an explosion of a nature “likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property”.

They deny all charges.

The trial, before Lord Turnbull, continues.