Glasgow man cleared of ‘execution’ threat in Belfast after post on Republican group page

A man from Glasgow has been acquitted of a terrorist charge in Belfast, after posting a screenshot of a list of alleged drug dealers on a Republican Facebook page. The jury at Belfast Crown Court took around 20 minutes to deliver a unanimous ‘not guilty’ verdict for Andrew Stephen Rae on December 11. Rae, a 43-year-old from Glenavon Road in Glasgow, was charged with possessing documents useful to terrorism for posting an image of a list of alleged drug dealers from Belfast that included a threat of execution.

During the trial, the court heard that a list of 25 suspected drug dealers appeared in north and west Belfast, linked to ‘The Republican Movement’ with a threat of execution against those listed. Subsequently, a post on the Republican Activist Coalition’s Facebook page mentioned naming drug dealers in the community. The following morning, a Facebook user identified as ‘Andy Rae’ posted a screenshot of the list of names. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Police Scotland conducted an investigation, leading to Mr. Rae’s arrest on March 22, 2022.

Despite claiming he found the image as a screenshot and reposted it without knowing its origin, Mr. Rae did not provide evidence during the trial. His barrister argued that the list did not offer practical assistance for committing acts of terrorism. After deliberation, the jury acquitted Mr. Rae of the charge. Judge Patrick Lynch KC thanked the jury for their service and allowed Mr. Rae to leave the dock.

In a swift decision, the jury cleared Andrew Stephen Rae of the accusation brought against him, bringing an end to a legal process that lasted for two days in court. The case highlighted the complexity of online postings and the challenges of determining intent and context in such situations.

In conclusion, the case of Andrew Stephen Rae exemplifies the importance of thorough investigations and fair trials in cases involving online content shared on social media platforms. It also underscores the need for clear guidelines and regulations to address the dissemination of potentially harmful or threatening information online.