Three cleared of funding gun smuggling.

(From Newsletter)

THREE people were yesterday cleared of funding a terrorist gun- smuggling ring.

Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Girvan said he could not be sure that Maria Brogan, Patricia OOKane and Sean Burns knew they were sending money to America to buy guns and ammunition.

He told the court that after OOcareful considerationOO, the Crown had not satisfied him OObeyond a reasonable doubtOO that 30-year-old Brogan, OOKane, 29, and Burns, 29, had OOknowledge of the intended purposeOO of the money they sent to the United States.

The judge said that OOaccordingly, the court must acquit each defendantOO of the charge of facilitating …