08/03/2019

West Belfast Man Jailed For Possession Of Firearms & Explosives

Police have welcomed the sentencing of a man from west Belfast for possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives in suspicious circumstances.

36-year-old Kevin McLaughlin was handed a five and a half year custodial sentence earlier today, Friday 08 March, at Belfast Crown Court.

It follows a police probe into dissident republican terrorist activity in west Belfast, during which a quantity of bomb making components and ammunition, including three mercury tilt switches, were found at a house in Broom Close in the Twinbrook area.

These articles were later linked to Mr McLaughlin.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Griffin said: "I welcome today's success which demonstrates our commitment to tackling those involved in dissident republican terrorist activity.

"The materials which Mr McLaughlin possessed would likely have caused serious harm to communities in Northern Ireland and could have killed or injured. We will continue to work with communities to reduce the threat posed by those involved in such activity and would ask people to contact police if they have any suspicions about terrorist activity."



(JG/CM)

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