Eamon Bradley from Creggan, leaves Derry Court charged with attending a weapons and explosives training camp in Syria.

A Northern Ireland man charged with receiving weapons training from opposition forces in the Syrian civil war has told police he was involved in battles against both Islamic State and the government regime, a court has heard.

Eamon Bradley, from Londonderry, has given detectives an extensive account of his role in the bloody conflict earlier this year, the city’s magistrates court was told.

Bradley, 25, from the Creggan area of the city, was arrested in Derry on Thursday only days after returning from Syria.

He appeared in court yesterday under UK terror legislation with committing two offences in Syria - possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, namely a grenade, and receiving training in arms and explosives.

Dressed in a black T-shirt, bearded Bradley, who the court heard converted to Islam five years ago, spoke only to confirm his date of birth and that he understood the charges he faces.

During this account he stated, having converted to the Muslim faith and becoming aware of the conflict in Syria, he determined that he would travel to Syria to help the people

He was remanded in custody after his application for bail was refused by District Judge Barney McElholm. A detective sergeant with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told the judge he could connect the accused with the charges.

The officer said Bradley, who is from Melmore Gardens in Derry, answered all questions during two days of questioning at Antrim police station.

“During this account he stated, having converted to the Muslim faith and becoming aware of the conflict in Syria, he determined that he would travel to Syria to help the people,” he said.

“He described to police contact with people he doesn’t identify on the internet which assisted him to getting to the Syrian/Turkishborder, which is a known cros-sing point into Syria for the on-going conflict.”

The officer said Bradley, an Irish citizen, flew to Turkey from Dublin in February and stayed at various locations near the Syrian border for two months.

“That’s where he learned more about Islam and various groups and groupings in the area,” he said.

The officer said Bradley told detectives he assembled with a group of men and went over the border into Syria via a river crossing.

“Mr Bradley has informed police that he attended a training camp under the control of a group called Jaysh Al Islam, which translated is Army of Islam,” he said.

“He was there for a period of approximately two months. He stated he received training in this camp in AK47 firearms, he mentions other firearms, he also mentions mortars and other explosive weapons.