Following an investigation by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF), three men were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court.
Three men were sentenced to prison today, Friday, February 3rd, at Belfast Crown Court.
At Belfast Crown Court, Michael McMillan, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, carrying a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, and possession of a firearm and ammunition while prohibited by a custodial period. He was sentenced to nine years in prison today, half of which will be served on probation.
At Belfast Crown Court, Stephen Allen, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, carrying a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, and possession of a firearm and ammunition while prohibited by a custodial period. He was sentenced to nine years in prison today, half of which will be served on probation.
Jason McMillan, 32, pleaded guilty to robbery conspiracy at Belfast Crown Court. He was sentenced today to six years and two months in prison, half of which will be served on probation.
All sentences will be served simultaneously. Each individual has been issued a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
“The three men sentenced today were arrested on the morning of Saturday 6th March 2021, after the cars they were travelling in were stopped and searched as part of a proactive policing operation into criminality linked to the INLA,” said Detective Sergeant Crothers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Paramilitary Crime Task Force. A loaded firearm and ammunition were discovered as a result of the search. We believe the men were attempting to rob a cash-in-transit van and would have used the weapon if specialist officers had not intervened.
“This incident occurred in a busy shopping area at 9am in the morning and could well have ended in tragedy if police had not acted so effectively. Those who engage in this type of crime should have no doubt about our commitment and determination to identify, pursue, and arrest anyone suspected of criminal activity and see them convicted for their crimes.”
