Man Jailed For Storing Semtex And Guns For Dissident Republicans

A man has been jailed for three-and-a half years after storing Semtex, guns and bullets for dissident republicans at his parents' home in Belfast.

Kevin Nolan, from west Belfast, moved to England after he received the items.

He pleaded guilty to a number of terrorism related offences and is also to serve three-and-a-half years on licence. He was also given a 15 year notification order.

Police uncovered a significant quantity of explosives, firearms and ammunition, as well as a black coat and balaclava during a search.

Detective Inspector Adrian Brown said: "Our intelligence-led search operation uncovered a significant cache of explosives, weapons and ammunition all hidden in various rooms within the family home.

"At this stage Kevin Nolan was living in England so PSNI detectives, assisted by officers from North East Counter Terrorism Unit and Northumbria Police, arrested him under the Terrorism Act and brought him back to Northern Ireland for interview during which he claimed he had no knowledge or involvement with these items. At one stage he said he had found a bag containing the cache while walking alone in the City Cemetery. He said he seen two men, one of who was carrying a large plastic bag, which they left at a hedge. Kevin Nolan stated he had taken the bag believing it contained drugs or money and he didn’t know there were firearms and munitions until he looked inside once he had arrived at his parents’ home where he lived at the time.

"At a later date he then claimed he had been approached to keep the items while working as a taxi driver at an office on the Springfield Road. He said at first he had refused the request but then acquiesced and hid the items in his parents' house.

"During the investigation we were able to link Kevin Nolan’s DNA to the explosives and firearms, as well as the balaclava which was found with a black coat. Forensic swabbing of this black coat revealed traces of Semtex in the pocket.

"He was then charged with a number of offences including two for possession of explosives, three for possessing firearms and two relating to terrorism."

(CD)