East Belfast man denies placing pipe bombs at playing fields used by the GAA

All the charges related to August 2020 when pipe bomb devices were left on cars parked at the playing fields in East Belfast

A 59-year man accused of possessing explosives denied placing pipe bombs at playing fields used by the GAA in East Belfast.

Giving evidence at his own trial, John Wilson told a jury at Belfast Crown Court that whilst he didn’t plant the devices, he was threatened by a group of men who told him to phone the PSNI and tell them “there was a bomb in the bin, or something.”

Wilson, from Lower Braniel Road in east Belfast, is currently on trial for four offences. He has denied one charge of possessing explosives in suspicious circumstances and three charges of attempting to intimidate members of the club “unlawfully by force, threats, or menaces” from attending or playing sports at Henry Jones playing fields.

All the charges related to August 5, 2020, when pipe bomb devices were left on cars parked at the playing fields.

After being called to the witness box, Wilson swore on the Bible to tell the truth. He was then questioned by his barrister Rosemary Walsh KC. Wilson was asked about when he first became aware the GAA was using the playing fields and he said it was around July 2020.

He said “there was an awful lot about it on Facebook” and that “I saw it for myself” when he was out walking his German Shepherd dogs Riley and Tilly

Wilson said people in the area “weren’t happy about it”, that his friend’s father has been told to get off the pitch and that he himself had been called an “Orange B” whilst wearing a Northern Ireland top.

He also accepted he had contacted loyalist activist Jamie Bryson about it and had also contacted the DUP’s Joanne Bunting to express concerns that cars parked on Church Road were causing issues and that the GAA hadn’t booked the pitches correctly.

Ms Walsh also questioned her client about a message he sent to a male friend on July 29, 2020 when he said ‘I’ve a plan lol.’

When asked about this by his barrister, Wilson said this plan was to get a group of men up to the pitches to play a game of football.

He said he also planned to start a petition regarding the car parking issue and was going to place cones on the pitch then train his dogs.

Wilson was then asked about the evening in question and confirmed he was at the playing fields walking his dogs. He said that a group of three or four men were there and after walking past them, one of them called his name.

Wilson said they “basically told me to go to the Ballygowan Road”, ordered him to call the police from a telephone box and that they “told me to say there was a bomb in the bin, or something. I remember them saying about a bomb in the bin.”

He claimed he was threatened and that due to concerns for himself, his partner, his children, his home and his workplace: “I just done what I was told.”

When asked why he didn’t tell police this when he was arrested, Wilson accepted he had lied but had done so to protect himself and his family following the threats made.

Denying he made, touched or placed the devices, Wilson said he didn’t raise his children to be sectarian and that he didn’t associate with paramilitaries.

Under cross-examination from Crown barrister David Russell, Wilson was asked about the statement he gave to police. Accepting he initially denied calling the PSNI from the phone box, Wilson said his statement was “a lie, full stop.”

Mr Russell then asked Wilson what his views about the GAA playing in east Belfast were and he replied: “I have no problem with the GAA, in fact one of the guys I work with plays for East Belfast GAA and we are the best of friends.”

The prosecutor then asked Wilson about a series of messages he sent and received in the weeks before the incident.

In an exchange on July 23, 2020 with a male, Wilson is asked ‘U took up funny football?’ and he replies ‘not happy m8, watch this space lol.’

The male then messaged ‘fenian lives matter’ and Wilson’s response was ‘scum m8’.

After Mr Russell asked who he was referring to as ‘scum’, Wilson said “terrible, embarrassing, wrong.”

Pressed further, Wilson said “it must mean the fenians” then said “it’s embarrassing, it’s not nice” but added “I didn’t call anybody in the GAA scum.”

Mr Russell then said this message “gave an insight” into Wilson’s mind and when the barrister said “that’s how you think of them, scum, isn’t it Mr Wilson?”, the defendant replied “some of my best friends are Catholics.”

When asked if he wanted to “disrupt” the GAA playing in east Belfast, Wilson said he did and had planned to organise a football match and a petition – neither of which happened.

Mr Russell then questioned Wilson about the men who threatened him and ordered him to phone the police and said “it’s not very plausible, this made-up story”, adding “you are trying to bluff it out.”

Wilson said he was now a Christian, that he swore on the Bible to tell the truth and that he was telling the truth to the court and jury.

Denying he made, possessed or planted the devices, Wilson said he had “never, ever, ever held a pipe bomb and I don’t even know what they look like.”

At hearing.

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