Parcel bomb accused 'learned about hoax devices by watching A-Team'

Neil Lennon, Trish Godman and the late Paul McBride were all sent suspect packages

A man accused of sending parcel bombs to Neil Lennon said he learned how to make a hoax bomb from watching an episode of the A-Team, a court heard.

In a police interview, Neil McKenzie, 42, admitted he told someone else how to make a hoax device, but refused to name the other person.

He admitted supplying components for several suspect packages last spring.

Mr McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead, 43, deny a plot to kill Mr Lennon, Trish Godman and the late Paul McBride QC.

In a police interview played at the High Court in Glasgow, Mr McKenzie said the package addressed to Mr Lennon, which was found in Saltcoats on 4 May 2011, contained wire, putty and a small watch.

Asked about suspect packages posted in March and April last year, Mr McKenzie said: "I knew about one going to Neil Lennon," adding later: "I told folk how to make them."

'Rocket science'

Mr McKenzie told the police the package (to Mr Lennon) was intended to be a hoax, adding that "our" intention had been to put Ally McCoist's name on the back of it.

In the recording, the father-of-three said he had learned how to make a hoax parcel bomb by watching The A-Team.

A suspect package was also sent to Cairde na hEireann (Friends of Ireland)

"It's not rocket science, is it?" he told a detective.

During the police interview Mr McKenzie was played secretly-recorded conversations in which he joked about the death of Mr Lennon.

Asked about the discussions, he insisted they were just "banter".

In the police interview, Mr McKenzie was played a tape recording of conversations he had with co-accused Mr Muirhead which mentioned peroxide.

Mr McKenzie said he had seen on the internet how to mix peroxide to "make a flash".

He agreed that he had lied to police earlier in the interview about needing peroxide to dye his hair.

The accused said another extract of a secretly-recorded conversation about planting a package outside a police station was "a laugh and a joke".

'Scare them'

Asked by police about the purpose of suspect packages addressed to Mr Lennon, Ms Godman, Mr McBride, and the offices of Cairde na hEireann (Friends of Ireland), Mr McKenzie said the intent had been to "scare them".

At one point he denied being involved in the construction or sending of the packages and said he had not provided material for them.

But confronted with evidence by detectives, Mr McKenzie admitted buying cheap watches and travel bottles but he said these had since been thrown away.

A package was addressed to Neil Lennon at Celtic's training facility in Lennoxtown

He also admitted purchasing nails at B&Q on 14 April last year.

He said he had sourced wire, putty, an envelope and a watch for the parcel sent to Mr Lennon, which was found in Saltcoats on 4 March last year.

The accused said he had researched the address for Celtic Park on the internet but denied posting the package.

He also told police he had discussed buying the components for the suspect packages with his co-accused, Mr Muirhead.

Mr McKenzie said he had bought an envelope and a watch for a package addressed to Mr Lennon at Celtic's training ground in Lennoxtown, which was intercepted in Kirkintilloch on 26 March last year.

Mr Muirhead and Mr McKenzie are alleged to have planned to "assault and murder" Celtic manager Mr Lennon, the former MSP Ms Godman and prominent lawyer Mr McBride between 1 March and 15 April last year.

The charge claims the pair sent another suspected bomb to the offices of Cairde na hEireann (Friends of Ireland) in the Gallowgate, Glasgow.

Both men are also accused of having made and possessed Triacetone Triperoxide with the intent to endanger life.

Mr Muirhead and Mr McKenzie deny all charges.

The trial, before Lord Turnbull, continues.