A LOYALIST on trial for firearms offences denied yesterday that a Makarov-type pistol which was found during a police search of his property was his weapon.
Instead, Mark Harbinson (51) said he had a “firm suspicion” that the handgun, silencer and ammunition were planted in an outbuilding used to house timber by someone else to set him up.
The weapon, sound supressor and ammunition were found wrapped in a red plastic Family Circle biscuit box which was located by officers during a search of Harbinson's then home at Sheepwalk Road in Lisburn on December 21, 2015.
Belfast Crown Court heard that after the search, Harbinson left Northern Ireland via Dublin, and travelled to Cumbria. He was arrested on December 31.
Harbinson, from Stoneyford Road in Lisburn, has been charged with, and denies, three offences arising from the search - namely possessing the pistol, silencer and 28 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances, and possessing both the handgun, and the ammunition, without holding a Firearms Certificate.
Taking the stand yesterday Harbinson was first questioned by his barrister before being cross-examined by a Crown prosecutor.
After swearing an oath on the Bible, Harbinson confirmed he served a prison sentence for sexual offences, and was not present at his Sheepwalk Road home from mid 2009 until his release in May 2013.
He also confirmed that he has received threats from both republican and loyalist paramilitaries, has been the subject of a "campaign of intimidation" and installed security measures at his home.
When asked by his barrister why he went to England after becoming aware of the search at his property Harbinson said: "I have absolutely no explanation other than to say that at that particular time in my life, I had receipt of mental health issues. I was suffering from depression and anxiety.
“All I can say is that I had a complete and utter meltdown in my thought process. I wasn’t thinking straight. Looking back now, it was a terrible time in my life.”
When the lawyer turned his attention to the weapon found in the biscuit box and his fingerprints in the box, Harbinson denied knowing of its contents and said he could offer no explanation other than he would have handled numerous boxes and tins in outbuilding where he kept staples and bolts in.
Harbinson also reiterated his claim that the gun was planted on his property.
"It's my firm suspicion, because I am genuinely sitting here today knowing I didn't do it. I didn't place that firearm underneath the stairs or anywhere near my farm. Someone must have done it," he said.
Under cross-examination by the Crown prosecutor, Harbinson denied "hiding from police" on the evening of the search, of "running away" the following day and "taking some steps" before he went to England - including obtaining his passport and £7,800.
He was also quizzed about his experience as a soldier in the UDR and confirmed that he could maintain, strip, clean and reassemble weapons but said the last time he fired a gun was during training at Ballykinler in the mid 1980s.
The Crown barrister asked Harbinson how and why his fingerprints were found on the biscuit box.
Telling the court he didn't eat that particular brand of biscuits, Harbinson said he was initially shocked but said: "If my fingerprints are on the box, I have handled it in some way, shape or form. No doubt about it."
He also claimed "someone has used the box that I have on my property to do this to me".
When the Crown prosecutor asked Harbinson how this was possible, given the security measures at his isolated rural property, he said he didn't know and had questioned friends about it.
"I have become very suspicious of even close friends and blamed people, quite innocent people. In my circle of friends, I suspected everyone. It's made me so paranoid."
The trial continues.
