The Newtownards man was caught when the guns were detected during their journey to Northern Ireland.
A man from County Down who posted himself an AR-15 rifle and two handguns from the United States has been given a suspended sentence.
William McMullan, of Loughdoo Road in Newtownards, admitted buying the weapons while on holiday in the US. The National Crime Agency was alerted after Border Force officers detected parts of the weapons in the packages when they arrived at the international postal hub in Coventry in England. McMullan, 66, appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court on Friday where he admitted firearms importation offences and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for a year.David Cunningham, NCA Belfast branch commander, said the weapons "could have caused mass causalities in the wrong hands".
"The AR-15 is a military-style rifle, of the type known to have been used in a number of high profile mass-shootings in the United States," he said.“These were serious offences, and McMullan was foolish in the extreme to think he could get away with it."Legacy Act gives government too much power, court rulesJudge calls for longer pregabalin supply jail terms
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