Army attack accused goes on trial

Michael Rogan is charged with bombing an army barracks

A Belfastman who was on the run accused of bombing Northern Ireland's Army headquarters in County Antrim has gone on trial.

Michael Gerard Rogan was arrested in Tenerife in October 2004 and extradited back to Northern Ireland.

The 45-year-old, from Easton Avenue in Belfast, is charged with conspiring to cause explosions at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, in 1996.

A soldier was killed and 33 other people were injured in the IRA attack.

The accused was granted bail in November 1997, but failed to appear back in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On Monday, Belfast Crown Court was told Mr Rogan supplied the two Volvo cars used in the bomb attacks.

He denies causing the two explosions and two further charges of collecting information useful to terrorists.

'Computer files'

Trial judge Mr Justice McLaughlin was told it was the prosecution case that Mr Rogan paid almost £9,000 for the two cars used in the bombings.

A prosecution lawyer alleged that between April 1994 and the following February, Mr Rogan collected information on prison staff and members of the security forces from the records of private healthcare company BUPA.

The lawyer said the defendant, using false documentation, began working for BUPA, giving him access to computer files with details on prison staff and members of the security forces.

The Crown case is that computer printouts and discs taken from BUPA were later uncovered in a search of Mr Rogan's home and another address.

The accused's fingerprints were found on some of the documents, said the prosecution.