Bail granted to man accused of making four beer keg bombs

The PPS was given 24 hours to lodge appeal papers in the High Court as they seek to overturn the decision.

Markey, from the Tassagh Road in Keady, appeared by videolink from prison where he is on remand facing 14 charges. They include 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 driving without insurance, all alleged to have been committed between March 1 and 26 last year.

Previous courts have heard that while police believe Markey is responsible for making the improvised explosive devices, he does not have any paramilitary links and nor has a motive for the bombs been identified.

The charges follow security alerts in the Castleblayney Road area of Keady, the Newtown Road area of Camlough and the Maghery Road area of Craigavon. Giving evidence at a contested bail application when Markey first appeared, a detective said that in the first incident on 12 March, a member of the public reported hearing a “loud bang” at 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 enquiries had traced Markey to the purchase of four car batteries at Halfords in Armagh on March 1, while there were alleged sightings of him driving his fathers car at the various locations at the relevant times.

Markey’s father, revealed the officer, 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 the detective, adding that with no motivation identified for making the bombs, Markey “could hold ambitions to carry out further attacks”.

Yesterday, a police officer said there were still objections to Markey being freed, but Judge Kelly said the ongoing delays had been too significant not to grant bail.

Markey was granted £500 bail with a £2,000 cash surety with conditions that he is electronically tagged, observes a curfew and is barred from alcohol. However that is being held in abeyance while the appeal is lodged.