AN Irishman linked to the Brighton Bomb met with one of the accused in an alleged plot to murder two former high profile figures in a loyalist terror group, a court has been told.

Shaun McShane, 62, was jailed for "six or seven years" after the Grand Hotel was blown up, almost killing then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during the 1984 Conservative Party conference, jurors at the High Court in Glasgow heard.

The court was told that McShane was seen by undercover police officers walking and chatting with Antoin Duffy for some time on September 3 2013 in a Glasgow, before the two men went into a nearby pub.

Mr Duffy, 39, is one of four men who have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to murder Johnny Adair and Sam McCrory. They were once high profile figures in the loyalist organisation the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and its military wing the Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Mr McShane was giving evidence at the trial of Duffy, 39, Martin Hughes, 36, Paul Sands, 31 and John Gorman, 58. The other men also deny the charges.

The jury heard a bugged conversation just minutes before the visit in Duffy's Glasgow home in which he is asked by his girlfriend Stacey McAllister, who has just phoned.

The court heard Mr Duffy told her: 'It's Shaun McShane one of the Brighton bombers he got six or seven years mind when Thatcher was blown up or nearly blown up."

McShane, who has lived in Glasgow since the 1990's, said that he came from the same part of Donegal as Duffy and knew his family.

The court heard that in 1986, McShane pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a plot to bomb seaside towns by providing accommodation and telephone messaging help.

He was sentenced to eight years and this was reduced on appeal to six years.

McShane was asked by prosecutor Paul Kearney: "So when Antoin Duffy says you were jailed for six or seven years is he right," and he replied: "I wasn't involved in the Brighton bombing so he's probably wrong. I admitted aiding and abetting."

Mr Kearney then asked: "Was one of the men involved in this conspiracy to bomb seaside towns called Paddy McGhee," and he replied: "Not sure."

When asked why he had visited Duffy he said: "He was having problems with drink. I went up and had a chat with him."

Under cross-examination by QC Derek Ogg, defending, asked: "Were you aware that Antoin Duffy was also addicted to Tramadol, and Mr McShane replied: "I heard that from other people. I could tell he had drinking problems. He just seemed to be off his head. He was saying things that didn't make any sense."

He added that Mr Duffy's father Hugh, who was a friend, had asked him to speak to his son about his drinking.

Mr McShane was giving evidence at the trial of Duffy, 39, Martin Hughes, 36, Paul Sands, 31 and John Gorman, 58 , who deny conspiring to murder Johnny "Mad Dog"Adair and Sam McCrory, once high profile figures in the loyalist organisation the UDA, and its military wing the Ulster Freedom Fighters

Mr Duffy and Gorman also deny being part of a plan to murder the governor of Barlinnie jail Derek McGill in a car bomb attack.

Craig Convery, 37, Gary Convery, 34, and Brown, 29, also deny organised crime charges.

The jury also heard from Constable Ben Lord found DVDs and books about The Troubles during a search of Duffy's flat on October 23 2013.

The trial before judge Lady Scott continues.