Terror accused Eamon Bradley not guilty of possessing explosives

By Michael McHugh, Press Association

Syrian terrorism accused Eamon Bradley has been found not guilty of possessing explosives, but a jury has been unable to return a verdict on whether he attended a terrorism camp.

The panel was also unable to decide whether he received training in the making or use of weapons for terrorism.

Northern Ireland's director of public prosecutions is expected to inform the court within a fortnight whether the Londonderry man could face a retrial.

This was the first case of its type taken in Northern Ireland and it took the jury around six hours of deliberations at Londonderry Crown Court.

Bradley, 28, was alleged to have been involved with a Syrian rebel group opposed to the regime and Islamic State.

The "bedrock" of the prosecution case surrounded interviews he gave to police after he was arrested in Northern Ireland over images of him apparently posing with guns posted on social media.

He allegedly told a detective he was spirited into Syria from Turkey in a makeshift raft and joined the forces of the Army of Islam.

Bradley is also said to have described being given months of training in using weapons before attending three battles as a junior soldier armed with a firearm and a grenade.

He denied firing a single bullet and allegedly returned home disillusioned after initially going to help the Syrian people.

Judge Brian Sherrard said Bradley's defence had attempted to introduce doubts about the police interviews centring on his apparent lack of knowledge about military matters and about the Army of Islam.

Prosecutors said he was not a fantasist, and his account to police was the truth.

Bradley is originally from Melmore Gardens in Creggan.