Man accused of making 'beer keg bombs' remanded into custody

By Paul Higgins

A Co. Armagh man was remanded into custody today accused of making four beer keg bombs.

Newry Magistrates Court heard that while police believe 41-year-old Joseph Kevin Markey is responsible for making the improvised explosive devices, he does not have any paramilitary links and nor has a motive for the IED’s been identified.

Markey, from Tassagh Road in Keady, appeared in court by videolink from police custody where he was charged with two counts of causing an explosion and two of attempting to cause an explosion, all with intent to endanger life, four counts of making an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances, two counts of driving while banned, two of taking a car without consent and a single charge of driving without insurance, all alleged to have been committed between March 1-26 this year.

The charges arise following security alerts in the Castleblayney Road area of Keady, the Newtown Road area of Camlough and the Maghery Road area of Craigavon and giving evidence to the court during a contested bail application, Detective Constable Cairns said police feared that if freed, Markey would commit further offences or abscond across the border to the Republic of Ireland.

He outlined that in the first incident on 12 March, a member of the public reported hearing a “loud bang” and 5am and officers discovered damage to the Castleblayney Road which was “consistent with an explosion.”

A device consisting of a beer keg, a car battery, fertiliser and diesel was also uncovered and the officer said the other three devices, one of which partially exploded, all had a similar construction.

The Detective claimed that police enquires had traced Markey to the purchase of four car batteries from Halfords in Armagh on 1 March while there were alleged sightings of Markey, driving his fathers car, at the various locations at the relevant times.

Markey’s father, revealed the cop, is a resident in a nursing home so police “do not believe he would have the necessary capacity to give permission” for Markey to drive his VW Passat.

A search of Markey’s home, the officer continued, uncovered “all component necessary” to make the explosive devices while Markey himself “retains the skill set” to make more devices.

There was also a receipt from Halfords in his email account relating to the purchase of car batteries, the court heard.

“He has placed four viable devices in locations with no regard to the safety of members of the public,” declared DC Cairns adding that with no motivation identified for making the bombs, Markey “could hold ambitions to carry out further attacks.”

The suggestion there is no motivation for the attacks was described by a prosecuting lawyer as “all the more disturbing.”

In addition, a prosecuting lawyer revealed that car batteries were used, essentially as timers, for the devices but in such a way that no one, not even the bomb maker, would know when it’s going to explode.

“It goes off when it reaches a certain temperate and that’s an unknown quantity,” said the lawyer, submitting that Markey “is a danger to the public.”

He further submitted that from the first to the fourth, “the bombs are becoming more sophisticated or he is trying to improve his technique.”

Under cross examination from defence solicitor Jarlath Fields, the Detective agreed that Markey had no history of absconding and nothing of a terrorist nature on his criminal record.

He also agreed that Markey claimed there were beer kegs at his home as he intended to strip a lorry down so was going richer them to prop the vehicle up.

“The main evidence is the purchase of the car batteries,” suggested the lawyer and DC Cairns agreed it was but added that some items had been sent for forensic testing.

While Mr Fields suggested that Markey’s criminal record did not establish a risk of further offences, the PPS lawyer argued “this isn’t an isolated incident and I suggest it would’ve continued if he had not been stopped.”

The District Judge said he was “entirely satisfied that there is evidence to connect” Markey to the offences but refusing bail, he said there were “no conditions that would adequately” address the risks of further offences or if absconding.

Markey was remanded into custody and the case adjourned to 20 April at Armagh Magistrates Court.