A man was given a suspended sentence on Friday for sending messages that could be deemed as menacing to Alliance leader Naomi Long and one of the party's councillors.
Ronald George McElwee (29) of Rossnagalliagh in Derry had denied the two charges of improper use of the communication network on June 21 last year.
He had denied the charges but was convicted after a contest on the papers.
Derry Magistrates Court heard that police were informed by Ms Long, the then justice minister, about a message she deemed as menacing in relation to a Derry dissident republican whose prison licence had been revoked.
The message from McElwee said there were people "compliant with British internment and treated as such."
A further message relating to the same issue was also sent to Alliance councillor Rachael Ferguson.
McElwee admitted sending the messages but said he did not think they were menacing.
The court heard that the defendant had eight previous convictions and an application was made for a restraining order.
Defence counsel Michael Donaghey said there was no dispute that McElwee had sent the messages but he maintained they had been "misconstrued".
He described McElwee's record as consisting of 'low level public order offences.'
District Judge Barney McElholm sentenced McElwee to four months in jail sentence suspended for three years and imposed a restraining order.
