UDA member jailed for five years

A member of a banned paramilitary organisation who hoarded an automatic pistol and live ammunition for “sinister” purposes was jailed for five years today.

Police also found a handgun, replica firearms and paramilitary clothing at the Fife home of Steven Moffat, a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

Unemployed Moffat, 45, got involved with the organisation as a result of “drink and bravado” and a “romantic notion” of what membership entailed, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

Today, Judge Lord Macphail said it was impossible for the court to take a lenient view of the “very serious” offences.

Police searched the one-bedroom flat in Erskine Street, Buckhaven, Leven, where Moffat lived alone, on February 10.

There they found loyalist flags, a handgun, ammunition, paramilitary clothing, replica guns, and documents relating to initiation procedures to the UDA, most of which were in a holdall in the bedroom wardrobe.

In a boot bag under the mattress, officers discovered a Browning 9mm automatic pistol, in full working order, wrapped in cling film.

The court heard the accused had family connections in the North and believed that the North should remain within the UK.

Defence counsel Gordon Martin told the court his client, a first offender, was not the sort of person who would normally come before a court.

The solicitor advocate said his client was not a major figure in the organisation – which he joined in July 2004 – adding that he had been lured by the “glamour” attached to it.

Moffat’s assertion that he had been looking after the bag for someone else was not challenged by the Crown.

“I don’t think he fully understood what he was getting himself into,” Mr Martin said.

“He got himself involved in something much more serious, much graver, than he had anticipated.”

Last month, Moffat admitted belonging to the UDA, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000 – an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He also pleaded guilty to further breaching the Act by possessing a handgun, ammunition, clothing and other paraphernalia, giving rise to a suspicion that they were for the preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Moffat also admitted two charges under the Firearms Act, relating to the automatic pistol and two magazines of 9mm fire cartridges.

Lord Macphail sentenced Moffat to five years behind bars for possession of the handgun and other paraphernalia under the Terrorism Act.

He was given two years for each of the Firearms Act offences and three-and-a-half years for belonging to the UDA.

All sentences will run concurrently.

In passing sentence, Lord Macphail told Moffat: “It has been said on your behalf that you were a frequent visitor to Northern Ireland and that you joined the UDA as a result of drink or bravado, having become caught up in a romantic notion of that organisation; and that, having joined it, it was difficult to leave it.

“It was also said that you had taken possession of these bags because you had been instructed to do so, and that you were not a major player in the organisation.

“It is not possible, however, for the court to take a lenient view of these offences.”

The judge continued: “The circumstances in which the pistol and ammunition were in your possession were sinister, and sinister also was your intention in possessing them – your intention clearly was to assist a person or persons concerned with terrorist purposes.”

He added: “Those who involve themselves in the possession of articles for terrorist purposes, even if only as minders or caretakers, must expect to receive substantial sentences.”