91Èȱ¬

Police have welcomed a six-year jail sentence for a Limavady man who was found in possession of a shotgun and ammunition.

David Bond, 52, from Anderson Park in Limavady, was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday.

The charges related to an improvised shotgun and cartridges discovered in a garden shed, along with some gloves, after a police search in November 2021.

A number of UDA badges, flags and plaques were also found in his home.

Judge Smyth said that by entering a guilty plea, Bond acknowledged that he was in possession of the firearm to enable another person to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

The firearm, whilst home-made, was later tested and found to be functional and had been fired on a previous occasion, the court had heard.

Saying there was "no lawful purpose" for possessing the firearm, the judge concluded: "In all of the circumstances, the only reasonable inference is that the offence has a terrorist connection."

Passing a sentence of six years in custody followed by an additional year on licence, the judge said the defendant will serve four years of his sentence before being considered eligible for parole.

Speaking following Bond's sentencing, Det Insp Lavery said the case "exemplifies the ramifications that exist for those who involve themselves with dangerous weapons and criminality".

The senior officer said the investigation "removed a dangerous weapon and individual from our local streets" and "prevented any harm being caused to our community as a result".