Two men have appeared in following a dramatic cross-county police pursuit – where officers discovered a viable pipe bomb inside a vehicle which had been driven at speeds in excess of 100mph from Lurgan to Keady.
Andrew McVerry, 23, of Darkley Road, Armagh and co-accused Stefan McGraw, 37, of no fixed abode, Portadown appeared before Newry Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with possessing explosives in suspicious circumstances, driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police.
McGraw faces an additional charge of driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
The chase, which began in the early hours of Wednesday morning, October 22, saw police pursue a white Toyota Land Cruiser from Lurgan through Gilford, Tandragee, and Markethill before it was eventually brought to a halt in the Tassagh area of Keady using a stinger device.
Detective Constable Alexander Duffin told the court that at approximately 1.15am, officers travelling along Lough Road, Lurgan, observed the Land Cruiser driving in the opposite direction. When police turned to follow, the vehicle accelerated away, leading to the high-speed pursuit.
During the chase the Toyota reportedly reached speeds of over 100mph — including 85mph in a 30mph zone in Lurgan — and was seen running red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road.
DC Duffin told the court that officers reported that small white packages were thrown from the vehicle as it sped along the Coolmillish Road, outside Markethill, though these have not yet been recovered.
In Tassagh, a stinger device was successfully deployed, though the vehicle continued for another eight minutes before stopping.
When the car came to a halt, officers removed McGraw from the driver’s side; McVerry was taken from the passenger seat. A viable pipe bomb was discovered in the boot of the vehicle and later made safe by army bomb disposal experts.
A member of the public in the Tassagh area later discovered two balaclavas and two pairs of gloves in their garden, which have been seized by police.
The court heard that police are also investigating potential links between this device and a recent incident in which a pipe bomb was left outside the Sinn Féin office in Newry.
DC Duffin confirmed that “police are looking into the basis of trying to compare the devices”.
McGraw, who has 54 previous convictions — 24 for road traffic offences — admitted during interview to being a drug user and said he had consumed a large amount of cocaine the night before. He denies driving the vehicle and denied any knowledge of the explosive device.
Defence barrister for McGraw, Patrick Taggart, said his client denied being the driver and that McGraw maintained that there would be proof he wasn’t driving – through a recording – on his mobile phone.
McVerry’s counsel maintained that police evidence placed his client as the passenger, and that the 23-year-old had “no knowledge whatsoever of the device”.
She argued that the only evidence that McVerry was the driver has come from a “self-serving” suggestion from his co- accused.
“[McVerry] is demonstrably distinct from his co-accused by virtue of his age and his criminal record on his bail compliance,” she said, adding that “there is no history of any inability to abide by bail conditions and he has attended court as and when required.”
She continued: “The proposed address is with his parents in Crossmaglen and that would, in my respectful submission, provide an extra safety net in terms of his bail compliance.”
District Judge Eamon King refused bail for both men, citing risks of further offences, interference with the investigation, and absconding — noting that the pursuit appeared to be an attempt “to reach the border to avoid detection”.
Both defendants were remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on November 14.
