Harbinson case: Prosecution drops gun charge

Stoneyford loyalist Mark Harbinson. Pic by Pacemaker Press

A prominent Co Antrim loyalist accused of a number of firearms offences has had one of the charges against him dropped.

Mark Harbinson (49), of Sheepwalk Road in Stoneyford, near Lisburn, was due to be arraigned at Belfast Crown Court on Friday, January 6 on a total of four charges arising out of an incident in December 2015.

He was not present in court when prosecution lawyer Nicola Aurett told Judge Geoffrey Miller QC: “Following consideration, the prosecution do not intend to proceed with count one, which is possession of a firearm with intent to endanger.”