Two women in custody over weapons find

A woman and her daughter have been remanded in custody today charged with having explosives, guns and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Rosemary Robb, 44, and her daughter Tammy Robb, 19, both of Castlemara Drive, Carrickfergus, appeared at Laganside Magistrates court today following the discovery of a bomb-making facility in the area where they reside.

They were charged with having explosive substances including an improvised under-car booby-trap device, pipe bomb components, black powder, mercury tilt switches, timers and assorted bomb making equipment with intent to endanger life on January 9.

Both were also charged with having a .22 zip gun, a converted 8mm blank firing pistol and a quantity of ammunition with intent to endanger life on the same date.

The discovery was made during follow-up searches to a shooting incident in the same area on Tuesday evening.

The haul included a quantity of bomb-making equipment, explosive powder, pipe bombs, a fully primed under car booby trap device, a handgun and ammunition, clothing, and other component parts for explosive devices. A small quantity of suspected cannabis and a number of tablets were also found.

Police have linked the find to the loyalist feud in which three people have been murdered and there have been a number of attempted murders.

Both women, who strenuously deny the charges, were remanded in custody until February 7.

(MB)