Londonderry man jailed for 7 years for guns and ammo offences

Thomas Christopher Nash, 54, will serve half that sentence in custody. He will be subject to licence for a further five years after a Belfast judge deemed him a danger.

Mr Nash from Iveagh Park, Prehen, Londonderry, admitted having the weapons, as well as having an imitation AK47 assault rifle, an imitation handgun and a canister of CS spray.

The judge said: “It is an unfortunate fact that there are in our midst terrorist organisations who have sought to attack and kill members of the security forces.”

He added: “Others have taken different paths, but they have chosen to continue attacks with indiscriminate weaponry. Those who are convicted of such involvement will face long and condign punishment.”

The PSNI raided Mr Nash’s home last year after he was stopped in a car with two other men at Irish Street.

The father-of-three pleaded guilty to possessing the guns and ammunition with intent to enable others to endanger life and possession of the prohibited weapon.

A defence lawyer said that at the time of the offences, Nash had been in a mentally and medically vulnerable state and so, had “agreed to the storage of these weapons.”

The judge said it was not in dispute that the weapons were for dissident republicans “whose intentions to murder and maim have been made all too clear” and that Nash had played a vital role in hiding the guns and bullets.”