A former soldier who was said to have become involved in a series of robberies in an attempt "to keep local heavies happy" was jailed for four years yesterday by Belfast Crown Court.
The court heard that a former RIR private, Andrew William Irvine (28), originally from Kesh in Co Fermanagh, but now of no fixed abode, had been "used by older more sinister people".
Irvine, who had to leave the army because of ill-health, claimed he only received a small percentage of the £1,100 taken in five raids on shops in Belfast between August 5th and 23rd, 1996.
Prosecuting, Ms Tessa Kitson said five days after the last robbery the RUC in Belfast was contacted by Kent police in England where Irvine was being held for two similar offences.
Although initially Irvine refused to talk to detectives from Belfast, he eventually admitted involvement, but refused to name others, claiming they were members of an illegal organisation.
Mr Kevin Finnegan QC, defending, said at the time Irvine was living in the loyalist Village area of Belfast and felt he had to "keep the local organisation sweet" when he agreed to get involved in the robberies.
"He was used by older and more sinister people to commit these offences and he was trying to keep the local heavies happy," Mr Finnegan added. He asked if Irvine would ever have become involved in crime if he had been allowed to stay in the army.
Sentencing Irvine, Judge Corinne Philpott said that, because of his confessions to police, without which he would never have been "brought to book" for his crimes, she could be more lenient and he deserved the maximum credit in the circumstances.