No bail changes for loyalist under death threat
A PROMINENT loyalist due to face trial on firearms offences is under death threat from dissident republicans, a court has heard.
The threat against Mark Harbinson emerged during an unsuccessful bail variation hearing by the convicted sex offender, who wanted to amend two conditions of his bail. Judge Patricia Smyth refused the court application to remove the 50-yearold’s electronic tag and scrap his 10pm to 8am curfew.
She said the bail conditions were necessary and proportionate.
Harbinson, who was acquitted in January of possessing a 9mm Makarov pistol, a silencer and 28 rounds of 9mm ammunition with intent to endanger life, is to stand trial in June for having them under suspicious circumstances and without holding the relevant firearms certificates.
They were found during a police search of outbuildings at Harbinson’s Sheepwalk Road home in Stoneyford on December 21, 2015.
Yesterday his defence barrister told the court the bail conditions were proving difficult in Harbinson’s attempts at rebuilding his relationship with his wife and child. They were also interfering with Harbinson helping on the farm of his elderly parents, the court heard.
Opposing the bail variations, Crown Counsel said they were proportionate as Harbinson had shown an ability to acquire a large sum of money at short notice and flee to England, where he was initially arrested by police 10 days later, and also necessary to ensure he was following the conditions of his bail.
The lawyer added that Harbinson had been a high profile figure and those wishing him harm know where he is and have done so for years.
Harbinson was originally jailed for sexually abusing a 13-year-old school girl in October 2009. That conviction is currently before the Criminal Cases Review Commission.