Two remanded over Belfast weapons find

A man and woman have been remanded in custody after appearing in court over the discovery of a cache of weapons in Belfast…

A man and woman have been remanded in custody after appearing in court over the discovery of a cache of weapons in Belfast.

The PSNI seized 18 kilos of commercial explosives and eight handguns during the raid at a house in south Belfast on Friday, the court heard.

William Sharratt, 42, and Eleanor Benson, 39, appeared before the city's magistrates court in connection with the haul, which also included a semi-automatic rifle, 1,500 rounds of ammunition and a detonator.

Both deny the charges of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. The court heard police could connect the couple, who appeared in the dock separately, to the charges.

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Residents were evacuated from their homes overnight after military experts were called to examine a house where the suspected loyalist weapons cache was discovered.

The PSNI made four arrests but two men were later released. Sharratt and Benson were remanded in custody and will reappear via videolink on March 27.