Men jailed for nine years for possessing revolver
Two Belfast men convicted of possessing a gun have been jailed for a total of nine years.
Edward McKay, 46, from Shaw's Court and James Taggart, 30, from Chestnut Gardens were found guilty in April of possessing a gun and six bullets.
Judge Patrick Lynch QC told Belfast Crown Court it was a serious offence, "especially in our society".
McKay was sentenced to five years and Taggart to four years.
In ordering that McKay spend half his sentence on licence and Taggart two and a half years on licence, the judge said he was making a distinction between them because of McKay's previous conviction for possessing a shotgun which was stolen during a burglary.
Following a trial last month McKay, and Taggart, were convicted of possessing a Webley revolver and six bullets in suspicious circumstances on 7 November 2009.
The jury heard that police stopped the car being driven by Taggart on Bingian Drive in Andersonstown in the west of the city and uncovered the gun under the passenger seat.