A CO Tyrone man today pleaded not guilty to a series terrorism charges, including attempted murder, dating back almost 40 years.
Arthur John MacNally (73), of Minadinna Road, Sixmilecross, was called forward to the dock of Belfast Crown Court for his arraignment hearing.
He faced a total of seven charges on the indictment which included the attempted murder of ‘Soldier A’ and a civilian.
The pensioner was also charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life with a “beer keg type improvised explosive device” and attempting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
He was further charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent, robbing the Ulster Bank in Gortin of £875.50, hijacking a Datsun Cherry car and a Toyota Corolla car and belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
“Not guilty”
After each charged was put to him by the court clerk, MacNally replied: “Not guilty.”
All of the charges are alleged to have been committed on January 20, 1987.
Senior defence counsel Greg Berry KC said the case against his client “is of some vintage”, adding that in 1988 a direction was given for ‘no prosecution’ against MacNally for the offences.
“The case was subsequently reopened on the basis of new DNA evidence. Mr MacNally is now 73 years of age and we have been engaging with the prosecution in relation to disclosure,” said Mr Berry.
He told Mr Justice Fowler that the defence will be engaging the services of a forensic expert to examine the new DNA evidence.
This related to new techniques in how the DNA was lifted from material and how it had been retained and stored over the past four decades.
Saying a trial date could not be fixed at his stage, Mr Berry added: ”The long and the short of it is, we won’t be ready for trial until we receive the report from our forensic expert on the DNA issue.”
Mr Justice Fowler said at the next hearing he would like to see a disclosure management document setting out what material has been disclosed by the prosecution to the defence and what material had yet to be disclosed.
The senior judge said he would review progress in the case on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Mr Justice Fowler released MacNally on continuing bail and excused the defendant from attending next month’s review hearing.
