Man remanded in custody on attacks in west Belfast

A 45-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with attacks on 5G masts in west Belfast.

Michael Clarke, of Monagh Road in Belfast, was charged with two counts of arson at a hearing in the city’s magistrates court on Saturday morning.

The attacks took place in June 2023 on masts in Owenvarragh Park on the Andersonstown Road and at the Park Centre on Donegall Road.

Police said they could connect Mr Clarke to the attacks through DNA found on the string of a sports bag found at the site of the Owenvarragh Park attack.

They said CCTV showed two men – one wearing black shorts and a red hoodie and the other wearing red shorts and a black hoodie – with the man wearing the red shorts carrying the bag.

The court was told the DNA of three individuals were found on the string handle of the bag.

Giving evidence, a police officer said a search of the defendant’s home uncovered petrol, a key that can be used to open 5g masts, literature about 5g masts and legislation about criminal damage.

Police said under interview Mr Clarke declined to talk about the incidents but described himself as a “free man of the land” and at the end of the interview went on what the officer described as “a rant” describing 5G as a “weapons system” and that “we will all be unalive unless we wake up”.

The defence team described the evidence as “highly circumstantial” and that there was no law against owning any of the materials found at Mr Clarke’s house.

Under questioning, the police witness said that he did not know if the key had been tested on a 5G mast to see if it could open one, but that it had been described by the investigating officer as one which could open such masts.

During the hearing the police officer giving evidence said that there had been 26 attacks on 5G masts since 2023 and that a £4m estimate of the cost of the damage given at a different court hearing was a conservative valuation.