Trial jury is told that accused is ‘not a terrorist’

JURORS have been told a man accused of a plot to murder a former loyalist leader was a fantasist rather than a terrorist.

The claim was made at a trial of three men accused of attempting to kill Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair and Sam McCrory, two former high profile figures in the UDA and Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Antoin Duffy, 39, his cousin Martin Hughes, 36, and Paul Sands, 32, deny being involved in a murder plot against the pair. Mr Duffy and Mr Hughes also deny terrorism charges as the trial enters its ninth week at the High Court in Glasgow.

Mr Duffy’s defence QC Derek Ogg, in his closing speech, urged the jury of nine women and five men to acquit his client, a “Walter Mitty” character and someone with a disordered mind.

The QC said at the time of the alleged offences Mr Duffy was suffering from four mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress and was a dd ic t e d to t he drug Tramadol.

Mr Ogg said: “From one minute to the next minute, Antoin Duffy is during this time incapable of organising anything except where he is getting his Tramadol.

“He is t alking about armour piercing bullets, talking about explosives, talking about wanting to start a war. These things were said in the moment to boast, to show off, to impress others, to make himself look big.”

Mr Ogg said there was no evidence Mr Duffy had ever had a gun or bullets, or had even looked at extremist websites.

Craig Convery, 37, and Gordon Brown, 29, also deny being involved in organised crime.

The trial before Lady Scott continues.