Armagh pipe bomb accused refused bail

The pipe bomb was found after a police chase of a vehicle that ended in Keady, County Armagh

Two men, charged in connection with a high-speed late-night police chase that led to the discovery of a pipe bomb in County Armagh, have been refused bail.

The discovery was made after a police chase of a white Toyota Landcruiser that began in Lurgan in the early hours of Wednesday morning when the vehicle failed to stop for officers.

It ended when a stinger device was deployed in the Keady area, with the device then being found in the car.

Andrew McVerry, 23, of Darkley House and Stefan McGraw, 37, of no fixed abode in Portadown were refused bail when they appeared separately at Newry Magistrates Court.

The first to appear was Mr McGraw who faces six charges.

They are possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances, driving when unfit through drink/drugs, failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance and dangerous driving.

Mr McVerry faces five charges.

They are driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances.

During Mr McGraw's bail application a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Det Con told the court that police observed a Land Cruiser driving in the opposite direction at about 01:15 BST on Wednesday on the Lough Road in Lurgan.

When they turned to follow it the vehicle accelerated through William Street, Church Place and Millennium Way.

The pursuit, which police said at times hit 100mph, passed through Gilford, Tandragee, Clare and Markethill.

A stinger device was successfully used on the Coolmillish Road and after the vehicle travelled for a further eight miles it came to a halt near Keady.

Mr McGraw was removed from the driver's side of the vehicle but in interview he had said that his co-accused had been driving the vehicle.

Mr McVerry, for his part, denies that he was driving the vehicle, with his defence lawyer stating that the only evidence he was driving comes from Mr McGraw.

Police say they are conducting forensic tests to determine who was driving the vehicle.

It was stated that the two men had known each other for just a month and were "drug buddies".

The court heard that when the vehicle was searched a viable pipe bomb had been found in a duffel bag in a compartment in the boot.

It was later detonated by Army Ammunition Technical Officers (ATOs).

Both defendants deny knowledge of the device.

The Det Con told the court that officers had observed items being thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit.

It was stated that a member of the public in the area had later discovered two sets of gloves and two balaclavas in their garden.

The Det Con told the court that it had not yet been established if they were connected to the case.

The Det Con said that police were also trying to establish if there is any link between the pipe bomb in this case and the one that was found outside the Sinn Féin office in Newry two weeks ago.

However, a defence lawyer said that the only thing to connect the two incidents is that they are roughly in the same geographical area.

It was stated that neither defendant has connections to paramilitary organisations.

District Judge Eamonn King refused bail for both defendants.

The matter will return to court in Craigavon next month.