'Trusted member of the New IRA' remanded on weapons and explosive charges

A man, described by a police officer as a 'trusted member of the New IRA', has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court on weapons and explosive charges linked to finds in the city last week.

John Martin Kelly (43) of Columbcille Court, Derry appeared to face a total of six charges. 

He was charged with possessing explosives including two Soviet grenade heads and plastic explosives with intent to endanger life on September 7.

He was also charged with possessing explosives in suspicious circumstances on the same date. 

Kelly was further charged with two counts of possessing weapons, namely a Browning firearm and a Tokarev weapon with intent to endanger life on the same date as well as having the weapons in suspicious circumstances.

Kelly did not acknowledge the court in any way nor did he indicate he understood the charges. 

A Detective Inspector connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

The court heard that on September 7 police carried out a search in Southway in Derry in a home belonging to Kelly's brother and found a Tokarev weapon in the roof space.

Following this the officer said that John Kelly engaged in a series of calls and text messages trying to locate his other brother, Gerry. 

These messages and calls were described as being marked by 'desperation'. 

The officer said that later that day Gerry Kelly told the accused 'I've got that bringing it up now. '

Later that day the officer said a bag was brought to the home of Shannon Kelly the accused's niece. 

Police aerial footage showed two men moving a bin behind the house. 

Both Gerry Kelly and the accused were said to have left the house before police arrived and recovered the weapon and explosives. 

The court heard that shortly before the find Shannon Kelly was said to have texted the defendant to say the police were in the backyard and was said to have responded 'you don't know nothing, same as me.' 

The officer said that following the finds forensic tests were carried out and traces of DNA possibly linking Kelly to the weapons was found. 

The court heard that Kelly was arrested at his home on Saturday and during 5 hours of interview he made no comment. 

Bail was opposed due to the risk of re-offending and fear of flight. 

The officer said that police believed Kelly was in control of the weapons and used his family to store them on behalf of the New IRA. 

Defence counsel Sean Doherty asked had anything been found in Kelly's own home and was told no. 

He said that the defendant denied all knowledge of the matters before the court. 

He said that the prosecution case seemed to rely on two strands. 

The first being the mobile phone traffic which he said was not surprising given the circumstances and secondly the DNA which had questions over the integrity of that. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said that there was a prima facie case to answer. 

He refused bail and Kelly was remanded in custody to appear again on October 5.