NI man jailed for terrorism offences

A man has been jailed in Northern Ireland after pleading guilty to terrorism offences.

The charges relate to the search of a house in Ballyclare as part of a probe into suspected criminality linked to the South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association.

William (Billy) Simms was jailed for two years at Belfast Crown Court for possession of items for use in terrorism and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Simms pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing articles in February 2021.

A spokesperson for the Court Service said: “The defendant, having been convicted in respect of a terrorism offence(s) covered by Part 4 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 it was ordered that the defendant will be required to comply with the notification requirements of the said Act for 10 years and it was so stated in open court.”

Image: geograph.org.uk / Albert Bridge / The Laganside Courts, Belfast / CC BY-SA 2.0