Man appeals conviction for handling pipe bombs over DNA evidence

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 17:29 · Archive

A man jailed for handling explosives that exploded outside homes in Derry is appealing his conviction, claiming he was wrongly denied a chance to explain his DNA link.

Noel Logan, 38, of Nelson Drive in Derry, was convicted in a non-jury trial and sentenced to eight years in March for possessing explosives with intent to endanger life. The pipe bombs targeted three homes in the Waterside area between July 2017 and September 2019: two were found at Montgomery Close and one at Bonds Place. Police arrested him following a house search in December 2020.

The devices were fitted with ball bearings and nails designed to act as shrapnel and were described as capable of inflicting serious injury or death. Logan lived less than a mile and a half from the three targeted houses.

Logan's DNA was detected on tape attached to bomb remnants. Scientific experts assessed the chances of the forensics not being his as one in a billion in two cases and one in 1.7 million in the third. Logan continues to deny any involvement and claims there is an innocent explanation for the DNA link.

In the Court of Appeal, his defence barrister Martin O'Rourke KC argued that Logan was misinformed about the limits of his DNA connection to the devices. The barrister told senior judges: 'How could he possibly provide an explanation that would meet all of the issues police were presenting to him, inaccurately as it transpired.' O'Rourke argued his client was wrongly denied a proper chance to explain that he had simply been putting up flags.

How it is being reported

• Man jailed for handling pipe bombs 'denied a chance to explain he had just been innocently putting up flags'Fitted with ball bearings and nails which acted as shrapnel with the IEDs exposed, the pipe bombs were described as capable of inflicting serious injury or deathBelfast Live · 13 Nov, 17:02
• Court hears claims man jailed for handling pipe bombs wrongly denied proper chance to explain he was innocently putting up flagsA man jailed for handling pipe bombs which exploded outside homes in Derry was wrongly denied a proper chance to explain he had just been innocently putting up flags, it has been claimed in the Court of Appeal.Derry Journal · 13 Nov, 16:32
• Man jailed over pipe bombs claims DNA link came from discarded flag tape, appeal court toldBelfast Telegraph · 13 Nov, 15:55

In this story: Noel Logan · Derry · Court of Appeal · Waterside · Nelson Drive

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