‘Dupe’ jailed for storing weapons
A County Armagh man has been jailed for five years for storing a gun and explosives for dissident republicans.
A judge said she accepted Jason Terence Michael McCormick, 37 did not intent to use the items himself, but had been manipulated by “more sinister people”.
McCormick’s home in the Tullygally area of Craigavon was searched by police on 11 October, 2007.
Among the items found were a shotgun, ammunition and components used to assemble coffee jar bombs.
The gun, which had an altered barrel, was found in a “crude hide” under the stairs.
The other items, which also included a sports bag containing combat trousers, balaclavas and gloves, were discovered in the roofspace.
McCormick was arrested and initially told police that six weeks before the search, two masked men called at his house and threatened to hurt him and his family if he refused to store the items.
A prosecutor said McCormick then changed this story and pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm with intent and two counts of possessing explosives with intent.
He also revealed that prior to this incident, McCormick had a clear criminal record and had never come to police attention.
The prosecutor added it was the view of the PSNI that McCormick was “holding the items on behalf of dissident republicans.”
He told the court “this man is a dupe – soft and easily manipulated”.
