A man accused with his wife of storing guns and trying to manufacture explosives at their south Belfast home is a self-confessed “prepper” getting ready for potential catastrophe, a court has heard.
Ralph and Maria Caldwell face charges connected to the seizure of suspected shotguns, pistols, ammunition, combat knives, machetes and crossbows from their house.
Chemical substances and 25 mobile phones were also recovered during military-led searches at the Jerusalem Street property which began on Tuesday.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday that a bath in the house was filled to the brim with cans of fish sourced and being preserved by Mr Caldwell.
Defence solicitor Ciaran Steele said: “He accepts that he is what’s known as a prepper, someone who is preparing for some sort of cataclysmic event or breakdown in government.
“He has all these items of food and minerals to preserve them.”
The couple, both aged 40, are jointly charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as well as attempting to make explosives in suspicious circumstances.
An investigating detective said the intelligence operation began after they were stopped on a nearby street in the Holylands area.
The husband and wife told police they were on their way to Nando’s to get something to eat.
Searches at their home had to be temporarily stopped due to the volume of material uncovered.
Three suspected shotguns, eight real or replica pistols and a quantity of ammunition was seized, along with potassium nitrate, sulphur and corn syrup which can potentially be used to make explosives, according to police.
Along with the knives, crossbows and phones, officers also found handcuffs, an enforcer, a bullet press, piping, sights, 3D-printed items.
“They were dotted all over the house, in various drawers and shelves, everywhere,” the detective said.
During interviews Mrs Caldwell denied knowing about the seized items, telling police the couple’s home was so messy and stacked with bags and boxes on top of boxes that “you can’t walk anywhere”.
Originally from the Philippines, she came to Northern Ireland and worked as a qualified nurse until becoming unwell in 2020.
“She has no family here… her sole support is (her husband),” Mr Steele stressed.
Opposing Mrs Caldwell’s application for bail, the detective claimed multiple items of ammunition may still be stored in a second address or hide.
Both accused deny having access to any other property.
Mr Steele argued that Mr Caldwell had gathered some of the seized material into bags labelled with exhibit and case numbers as part of his defence in separate proceedings.
“He is also an artist and many of those items are used as props,” the lawyer added.
“He previously had a YouTube channel and creates re-enactments.”
Bail was denied to Mrs Caldwell due to the risk of interference with the investigation.
District Judge Anne Marshall remanded both defendants in custody until June 13.