North Belfast Gym Owner Pleads Guilty Over Houben Centre Bomb Hoax

A North Belfast gym owner has pleaded guilty to charges connected to a loyalist hoax bomb alert that targeted an event attended by then-Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.

Darren James Service, 45, of Ballysillan Road, appeared in the dock at Belfast Crown Court where his case was listed for mention ahead of a scheduled non-jury trial. Defence counsel applied for Service to be re-arraigned on two charges which he had previously contested.

Service entered guilty pleas to the hijacking of a Vauxhall Vivaro van and placing an article causing a bomb hoax at the Houben Centre, situated at Holy Cross Church on the Crumlin Road, on March 25, 2022. The prosecution accepted the pleas, while a third count regarding the preparation of terrorist acts was left on the books.

The incident took place during a peace-building event attended by Mr Coveney. During earlier court proceedings, it was outlined that two masked men threatened a workman and forced him to drive his vehicle containing a device to the community centre. The driver alerted police upon arrival, prompting an immediate evacuation of the building.

The prosecution case maintained that Service drove the two masked men to the scene of the hijacking. During a subsequent search of his home, police recovered £100,000 in cash from a safe, alongside balaclavas, a replica firearm, UVF pins, and luxury watches.

Judge Gordon Kerr KC ordered a Multi-Agency Review Arrangements (MARA) report from the Department of Justice and scheduled the plea and sentencing hearing for November 4, 2026. Service was released on continuing bail with updated medical reports due to be presented to the court prior to sentencing.