John Caldwell: Seven men in court over attempted murder of detective

Seven men person appeared successful tribunal charged implicit the attempted execution of a elder detective successful County Tyrone.

Det Ch Insp Caldwell was changeable portion putting footballs into his car astatine a sports analyzable successful Omagh connected 22 February.

The men - 2 aged 28 and the others aged 33, 38, 45, 47 and 72 - were arrested connected Friday and appeared earlier Dungannon Magistrates' Court connected Monday.

All were remanded into custody and volition look again astatine Omagh Magistrates' Court adjacent month.

The accused see Omagh men Jonathan McGinty, 28, from St Julian's Downs; Gavin Coyle, 45, of Mullaghmore Drive; and Robert McLean, 28, James Ivor McLean, 72, and 47-year-old Alan McFarland - each of Deverney Park.

Matthew Joseph McLean, aged 33, of Glenpark Road, Gortin, and 38-year-old Brian Carron of Claremount Drive, Coalisland, are besides jointly charged with attempting to execution Det Ch Insp Caldwell.

Mr Matthew McLean, Mr McFarland and Mr McGinty are further accused of preparing for acts of terrorism.

Mr Carron and Mr Coyle are further accused of belonging to the IRA.

Only Mr James McLean, Mr Coyle and Mr McGinty applied for bail astatine this stage, which was denied.

Refusing bail, District Judge Steven Keown said: "This was a meticulously planned attack. The hazard of reoffending is unmanageable."

The 7 men were arrested connected Friday on with 4 others - 2 men and 2 women.

Those 4 were released earlier connected Saturday by police, pending a study to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

Officers person antecedently stated they judge the dissident enactment radical the New IRA whitethorn person had a relation successful the attack.