Art experts aiding Stone defence

Stone was held back by security staff at Stormont

Performance art experts are helping the defence team of a loyalist killer who raided NI's assembly allegedly carrying explosives and a knife.

A barrister for Michael Stone, 53, said he was awaiting the "academic study" ahead of his client's trial this month.

Stone insists the attack, which forced the evacuation of Parliament Buildings near Belfast, was performance art.

The former UDA gunman faces 14 charges including trying to kill Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in November 2006.

"Experts have been engaged, they believe they can provide a report of an academic nature," said one of his defence team.

Stone is charged with possessing home-made explosives and a real or imitation gun with intent. He was also accused of carrying a garrotte, three knives and an axe and assaulting staff members who trapped him in the revolving entrance door at Stormont.

Grenades

In 1988, Stone killed three mourners at a republican funeral in west Belfast. He also hurled grenades into the crowd of 10,000 people.

In December 2006 his lawyer told Belfast High Court that he did not intend to endanger anybody's life and the explosives were not viable. The trial is expected to start later this month.