Men jailed for arms offences

Two County Armagh men have been jailed for possessing two pistols and other articles in connection with terrorism.

Clifford McKeown, 44, from Parkmore, Craigavon, who claimed he was set-up as part of a police "sting operation", was jailed for 12 years.

Robert Murphy, 25, from Beechbrook, Princessway in Portadown was jailed for nine years.

The men were arrested following a police chase between Lurgan and Portadown on 29 March 2000 during which the two pistols and a silencer were thrown from McKeown's car.

When the car was later searched, police uncovered the container of petrol together with a number of masks and several pairs of gloves.

'Sting'

Sentencing the two men on Monday, Lord Justice Campbell said it was not for the court to speculate to what use the two pistols, a container of petrol, gloves and balaclavas were to be put to.

But the Belfast Crown Court judge added that the public had to be protected from people who wished to engage in behaviour which could not be tolerated by any democratic society.

During his trial, McKeown's defence claimed that he had been set-up as part of some type of "police sting operation" which was rejected by Lord Justice Campbell who convicted him last November.

Murphy, who pleaded guilty, is the son of a retired policeman.

His solicitor, QC Eugene Grant, said that from an early stage Murphy "indicated that he was being used as a pawn and would take the wrap".

Mr Grant said it was "a classic case where a person involved at a very low level becomes involved in a more serious situation which they can't get themselves out of".

When jailing the pair, Lord Justice Campbell said he was drawing a distinction between them given Murphy's guilty plea, his age and lesser criminal record.