Man charged with possession of arms

Security was tight at Banbridge Magistrates Court

A man arrested by the Rosemary Nelson murder inquiry team has appeared in court on arms and explosives charges.

William Ian Thompson, 28, a tiler from Hamiltonsbawn, County Armagh, was brought to Banbridge Magistrates Court on Thursday morning under heavy security.

The defendant had been arrested last Wednesday by the police team headed by Norfolk assistant chief constable Colin Port, which is investigating the murder of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson, in March last year.

He was charged with possessing weapons, including a sawn-off shotgun, a sub-machine-gun and 30 shotgun cartridges, as well as possessing explosive powder.

Mr Thompson also stood accused of being a member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

The defendant was charged at Armagh RUC station on Wednesday night.

The court heard that Mr Thompson had been held for seven days at Strand Road RUC station in Londonderry, during which time he had denied the allegations.

He was remanded in custody until 5 April.