Man admits recording vehicles at police station

Image source, PA Media

A 33-year-old man has admitted recording details of vehicles parked within Lurgan police station on his mobile phone.

Samuel McCaughey was due to stand trial at Belfast Crown Court on two terrorism charges, which he initially denied.

After he entered the dock, his barrister Aaron Thompson asked that his client be re-arraigned on the charges.

Mr McCaughey, from Kilwilkie Road in Lurgan, was charged that on 27 May 2020 he recorded information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, namely details of vehicles situated at Lurgan police station.

When asked how he pleaded, Mr McCaughey replied "guilty".

CCTV footage

He was further charged that on the same date, he published information about two people "who are, or have been, members of His Majesty's Forces" - namely vehicle details of two individuals who are members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland - which was likely to be useful to a terrorist.

He also admitted this charge.

Mr McCaughey's barrister said both charges related to recordings which his client made on his mobile phone in an incident captured on CCTV.

A prosecutor told the judge it was her intention to play the CCTV footage in court during the plea hearing.

The judge set the date for that hearing as 8 November 2024 and told Mr McCaughey to engage with probation, who will be compiling the pre-sentence report.

After no objections were raised by the prosecution, Mr McCaughey was released on continuing bail.