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A man and a woman charged in connection with the discovery of suspected firearms and ammunition in County Tyrone have been granted bail.

Eamon McElkenny, 34, of Maplebrook Court in Coalisland appeared at Strabane Magistrates’ court charged with a number of offences.

He is accused of possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, unlawfully acquiring explosives, namely propellant and possessing firearms without a certificate.

Roisin Price, 43, of same address, also appeared in the dock charged with possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances and possessing firearms without a certificate.

Discovered in bra

A detective constable told the court the items were discovered during police searches at Mr McElkenny’s home in Maplebrook Court, Coalisland on 5 and 6 November.

The court heard the two defendants were arrested after police patrolling Coalisland in the early hours of 5 November noticed two men and a woman out walking.

The detective constable said one of the men threw a number of items on the ground and had incorrectly identified himself to police.

He added a man and woman who were also detained identified themselves as Eamon McElkenny and Roisin Price.

The police officer said following a search two suspected spent shotgun shells were discovered in Roisin Price’s bra.

The detective constable said Mr McElkenny was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, in relation to a previous incident reported to police in Coalisland on 30 October, where a man received an injury to his upper arm.

The court was told a man was still being treated for the injury in the Ulster hospital.

Under questioning from a defence solicitor, the senior police officer confirmed Mr McElkenny had not been charged in relation to the alleged attempted murder offence and was on police bail until the 5 February.

The court heard Mr McElkenny lives with his mother and grandmother at Maplebrook Court and that Ms Price had also provided this as her address to police.

Case adjourned

The detective constable confirmed to a defence solicitor there were no forensic or DNA links between Mr McElkenny and the suspected weapons and ammunition.

He told the court police did not believe the suspected weapons find was terrorist -related.

The court heard both accused have criminal records and that Mr McElkenny has 88 previous convictions.

The police officer said police were objecting to bail in respect of Mr Elkenny and that he had made no comment to questions put to him during police interview.

A defence lawyer argued his client could be granted bail with a number of stringent conditions imposed.

Mr Quinn was granted bail to an address to be agreed by police, but was banned from entering Coalisland.

A curfew between the hours of 20:00 GMT and 08:00 was also imposed.

He was also ordered not to have any contact with Roisin Price.

The judge also ordered cash sureties of £500 as part of his bail conditions.

Ms Price was also granted bail to an address agreed by police and was ordered to have no contact with her co-accused or any other witnesses.

The case was adjourned until 27 November 2024.