Glasgow man cleared of 'execution' threat in Belfast after post on Republican group page

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scottish man was acquitted on a terrorist charge arising from a screenshot of a list of alleged drug dealers in Belfast which he posted on a Republican Facebook page.After deliberating for around 20 minutes, a jury at Belfast Crown Court returned a unanimous 'not guilty' verdict against Andrew Stephen Rae on December 11.

The 43-year old, from Glenavon Road in Glasgow, was charged with, and denied, possessing documents or records useful to terrorism - namely that on March 22, 2022 he possessed an image of a list of alleged drug dealers from Belfast which included a threat that they would be executed.This list and accompanying threat, the Crown said, was 'of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'.During the two-day trial, the jury of seven men and five women heard that around August 7, 2021 the PSNI became aware that a list had appeared in north and west Belfast.This list contained the names of 25 suspected drug dealers, mentioned 'The Republican Movement' and stated those on the list 'will be executed'.

Due to the threat, the men and women named on the list were spoken to by the PSNI and informed of the threat.On August 30, 2021 a post appeared on the Republican Activist Coalition's Facebook page which said 'For too long drug-dealing scum have gone under the radar while wrecking communities with the poison they sell.'When Covid 19 passes, the real pandemic still goes on.

Drug addiction contributes overwhelmingly to negative mental health, homelessness and suicide. Starting this week, we will be naming everyone who we know is selling in our communities.