19 June 1986
The Times
A Scotsman told the Central Criminal Court yesterday that he had 'no idea' his lodgers were an IRA active service unit plotting to explode bombs across Britain.
Mr John Boyle, aged 26, who let a room at James Gray Street, Glasgow, to Patrick Magee and three others in an IRA cell, said: 'I had no suspicions they were anything to do with the IRA. '
In cross-examination by Mr Roy Amlot, for the prosecution, Mr Boyle said he did not suspect Magee, aged 35, Gerard McDonnell, aged 34, Martina Anderson, aged 23, and Ella O'Dwyer, aged 26, during the three months they occupied the room.
'Are you saying that somehow they got guns and almost 140 pounds of explosives, into that room without you knowing?' Mr Amlot asked. Mr Boyle replied: 'I was seldom at James Gray Street. ' Mr Boyle has admitted hiding bomb-making equipment and arms in the cellar at James Gray Street after the IRA team was arrested. But he denies procuring, counselling, aiding, abetting or being an accessory to the commission of crime by Magee and the others. He also denies possessing or controlling explosive substances with intent to endanger life and denies being an accessory by secreting materials for causing explosions in his cellar. Mr Boyle said he did not look at the materials when he spent half an hour transferring them to the cellar. Mr Amlot: 'You held out at the police station for three days and you did not tell them what you had done with the materials you found'. Mr Boyle: 'I took it for granted they would find it. ' The trial continues today.
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