Pair deny plan to murder Celtic boss and high-profile fans with explosive devices

The pair denied all charges against them when they appeared at Glasgow High Court yesterday. They will stand trial in November.

The men are accused of sending Lennon a package which they allegedly believed comprised an improvised explosive device, capable of igniting and exploding, causing severe injury and death to another person.

It is alleged that the package, sent to Lennon at the Celtic FC training centre at Lennoxtown, held a plastic bottle containing the explosive substance tri-acetone tri-peroxide with a wire attached and a plastic bag containing a bag of nails and a watch component. They are charged with sending similar devices to Ms Godman at an address in Bridge of Weir and to Cairde Na Heireann in Glasgow.

It is alleged the package sent to Mr McBride at Advocates’ Library, Parliament House, Edinburgh, comprised a plastic bottle containing petrol, with wire attached, a plastic glove, nails and a watch component.

They are charged with sending the devices with the intention that the contents would ignite and explode when opened, causing severe injury and death to the recipients. It is alleged the offences, which happened between 1 March and 15 April, 2011, was aggravated by religious prejudice. The pair are also accused of buying nails, envelopes, travel bottles and digital sports watches at two shops in Stevenston, Ayrshire, and induced another man to buy cream peroxide.

The pair face an alternative charge that they conspired to cause an explosion “likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property”.

The pair also face four further charges, which include possessing the explosive substance tri-acetone tri-peroxide with the intention of endangering life or causing serious injury to property.

They are accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of cream peroxide and wiring used to make improvised explosive devices.

It is also alleged that in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, on May 9 the pair threatened to plant and detonate an improvised explosive device outside a police station. McKenzie, of Saltcoats, Ayrshire, and Muirhead, of Kilwinning, are also charged with sending an item by post to Lennon at Celtic Park on March 3 or 4, intending him to think it was likely to “explode or ignite”.

Lord Brodie set a trial date for November 21.

LUCINDA CAMERON