Special Criminal Court convicts Belfast man

A Belfast man who rammed two garda vehicles to escape arrest near the border was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for having a loaded pistol.

Barry Petticrew, a 38-year-old father of two and native of Belfast, with an address at Station Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a Browning 9mm semi automatic pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition at Dundalk Western bypass, Ballynahattin, Dundalk on May 17 last year.