Stormont intruder appears in court
Michael Stone, the man responsible for yesterday’s security scare at Stormont in Northern Ireland, appeared in court this morning on terror charges.
The 51-year-old, a well-known loyalist paramilitary, has been charged with five counts of attempted murder, including intent to murder Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.
He was also charged with possession of articles for terrorist purposes and possession of explosives.
Stone breached security and entered the parliament building shortly after 11am yesterday, threatening to set off an incendiary device.
The assembly session was suspended and the building was immediately evacuated, just half an hour after talks had begun on restoring devolution as set out in the St Andrews agreement.
It emerged today that Stone, freed as part of the Good Friday agreement after serving 11 years of a 684-year sentence for six murders and five attempted murders, has had his early release suspended.
Northern Ireland’s police chief, Hugh Orde, said last night that between six and eight devices had been defused at Stormont. He said that while they were “fairly amateurish” they posed a significant threat, adding that “that does not make them any less dangerous”.
Speaking Today, Sir Hugh admitted that security would be reviewed but pointed out that Stone did not get near his alleged targets.
“I think it is important to remember he did not achieve his objective, he did not get in, the security was extremely effective and very brave members of the staff ensured he did not get any further,” he said.
“In fact, had he even managed to breach that resolute defence he would have met a number of my officers. He would not have got any further, but we will of course review security.”
Stone was responsible for an attack on an IRA funeral in March 1998. He killed three mourners before he was surrounded and beaten by a Catholic mob.
He was also found guilty of shooting dead three Catholics between 1984 and 1987, and in July 1989 was sentenced to a 684 years in jail. However, he was given parole six years ago as part of the early release scheme under the 1998 Good Friday agreement.
Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has now ordered an inquiry into how such a high-profile militant was allowed to get into Stormont.
