A 58-year old man is to stand trial later this year on charges arising from a security alert at GAA pitches in east Belfast.
John Wilson appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Monday where he was charged with, and denied, four offences dating back to August 2020.
After a legal application to have the case against Wilson dismissed was rejected by Judge Philip Gilpin, the accused was arraigned.
Wilson, from Lower Braniel Road in Belfast, was charged with possessing explosive substances, namely ‘pipe bomb type improvised explosive devices’, under suspicious circumstances on August 5 2020.
He was also charged with three separate counts of attempting to intimidate a person to refrain from doing an act, namely ‘attending and/or participating in sports at the Henry Jones Playing Fields in Belfast’ on the same date.
The charges relate to a security alert at the sportsground in Castlereagh which was sparked when a telephone call was made to the PSNI regarding devices left in the area.
Police recovered a number of items from cars in the incident which occurred two months after the East Belfast GAA club was founded.
Following Wilson's arraignment, Judge Gilpin was told by a Crown barrister that a trial was ready to proceed and that a jury will be required.
A trial date was set for November 4 with Judge Gilpin saying he would review the case on September 9 2024.
Wilson was released on continuing bail.