Man who had gun in waistband of trousers found guilty

A Co Tyrone man has been sentenced in seven years in jail after he was found guilty “beyond all doubt” by the Special Criminal Court of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

39-year-old David Jordan, originally from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, but who has been living in Cavan since 2009, appeared briefly in the court today for his trial which lasted less than half an hour.

The separated father-of-three refused to stand to be arraigned on charges of unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol and eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, in Co Cavan in January of this year.

He remained seated and pleaded not guilty to both charges.

His defence counsel, Mr Diarmuid McGuinness SC, however told the court that Jordan had instructed him not to contest the charges, and not to raise and issues or submissions in the matter.

Detective Garda Paul Cullen gave evidence of arresting Jordan on January 8, 2010, after he went to search a house on St Martin's Row, Belturbet, Co Cavan, during an investigation into IRA activity.

Jordan was stopped by Gardaí after attempting to make a getaway over a back wall, and was found to be carrying a firearm in the waistband of his trousers.

The court heard that Jordan, who had worked as a painter, had previously served a nine-year jail term after being convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, at Belfast Crown Court in 1991.

He also had previous convictions for minor road traffic offences.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the Special Criminal Court, said the court felt eight years was an appropriate jail term, but was sentencing Jordan to seven years because of mitigating factors.

He said chief of these factors was that he had chosen not to contest the case, and this was “tantamount to a plea.” Mr Justice Butler backdated the sentence to January 8, 2010.

The maximum sentence for the offence is 14 years.

Jordan had also been charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the IRA, but a nolle prosequi was entered in respect of this charge following the sentence hearing.