Northern Ireland

Seven men sentenced over 'sophisticated and highly organised' counterfeiting operation.

As part of the police operation, which included the search of a vehicle and four properties, stamps, dyes, foils, false security features and other materials required to manufacture counterfeit currency as well as counterfeit notes were discovered
As part of the police operation, which included the search of a vehicle and four properties, stamps, dyes, foils, false security features and other materials required to manufacture counterfeit currency as well as counterfeit notes were discovered As part of the police operation, which included the search of a vehicle and four properties, stamps, dyes, foils, false security features and other materials required to manufacture counterfeit currency as well as counterfeit notes were discovered
By Marie Louise McConville

Seven men, including two brothers, were sentenced yesterday for the roles they played in a "sophisticated and highly organised"counterfeiting operation.

Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard that the money involved in the operation amounted to just over £560,000 and €510,000 in fake notes.

Sentencing the men, Judge Paul Ramsey said the operation involved the purchase of relatively low value items from various small businesses "in order to maximise the return on the counterfeit money."

While four of the men admitted tendering counterfeit currency in November 2014, three others admitted making a counterfeit of a currency note with intent for use, on dates between April 2012 and June 2017.

Brothers Alan and Mark Johnston, described by Judge Ramsey as "at the centre" of the operation, were jailed, while their five co-accused were handed suspended sentences.

Mark Johnston (47) from Glen Rise in Belfast was given an 18-month prison sentence, with his brother, 46-year old Andrew Eric Johnston, from Alveston Park in Carryduff, was given 15 months. The brothers were told their sentences will be divided equally between prison and licence.

Five other defendants were each handed 12-month sentences, which were suspended for three years.

They were 34-year old Norman Charles Titley from Abbey Park in Belfast, James Wallace Titley Robinson (25) from Fortriver Drive in Belfast, Gareth Gorman (28) from Queens Avenue in Newtownabbey, 49-year old Samuel Terence Horner from Bests Hill in Belfast, and 28-year old Alan Thompson from Breda House in Belfast.

Citing the case as "complex and unusual", Judge Ramsey praised the police investigators for their diligence. He also spoke of the delay in bringing the case to court, and the effect this has had on the seven defendants.

While all seven men initially denied involvement in the operation, they subsequently changed their stance. The Johnston brothers and Gorman admitted making the notes, while the other five men pleaded guilty to tendering the notes.

During yesterday's sentencing, Judge Ramsey said the operation involved the production of thousands of high quality fake banknotes. He also told the court "there are clearly others involved in this operation that have not been made amenable."

Welcoming the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wilson said: "This was a sophisticated counterfeiting operation which manufactured over £1 million of counterfeit Sterling and Euro bank notes. Not only does the manufacture of counterfeit currency adversely affect economic growth, it has a negative impact on the genuine local businesses who don’t receive payment for their goods. In addition, profits made from manufacturing fake notes may fund further criminal activity.

"Today’s success demonstrates our commitment to disrupting and dismantling criminal enterprises and I want to thank the National Crime Agency’s Counterfeit Currency Unit for their assistance with this case."