One of two Derry who admitted having a rifle linked to dissident republicans has been remanded in custody after refusing to agree to be electronically tagged.
Mark Anthony Taylor (44), from Bishop Street, and Mark Anthony Patrick Kerr (26), from Carrabane Walk in Shantallow, admitted to having the weapon when the appeared at Belfast Crown Court today.
The charges relate to the discovery of a semi-automatic 597 Magnum rifle found in a boot of a car in the city on 2 August 2011.
Kerr, who also pleaded guilty to having a length of commercial detonating cord on the same date, was released on continuing bail while Taylor was remanded back into custody after refusing to be electronically tagged.
A prosecution lawyer told the Court it was accepted the pair were holding the weapon for someone else intending to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
Belfast Deputy Recorder Judge Corinne Philpott QC agreed to a charge against both men of possessing the rifle under suspicious circumstances and a charge against Kerr of having the detonating cord with intent to endanger life, be “left on the books.”
Both accused are due back at Belfast Crown Court on 26 February next for sentencing.
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