TWO MEN have appeared in court charged with dispatching explosive substances and hoax bombs after suspect packages were sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and high-profile supporters of the club.
Neil McKenzie, 41, of Saltcoats, and Trevor Muirhead, 43, of Kilwinning, both Ayrshire, made no plea or declaration when they appeared in private at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court before Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane today. The men were arrested yesterday following a major police investigation after suspect packages were sent to Lennon and one each to lawyer Paul McBride QC and former MSP Trish Godman.
A fifth suspect package, addressed to the offices of Cairde Na H’Eireann (Friends of Ireland) in Glasgow, was also intercepted by officers last month.
All of the packages were found during March and last month.
The Crown Office said that Muirhead and McKenzie each faced three charges of dispatching a package containing explosive substances under the Explosive Substances Act 1883.
They also each face two charges of dispatching a hoax bomb under the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Both were remanded in custody and the case was continued for further examination. – (PA)