Northern Ireland Man Avoids Jail for Sharing 'M15 Informants' Post on Facebook

A 27-year old man who was the first person in Northern Ireland to be prosecuted on a charge of posting comments online supporting terrorism avoided being sent to jail today (Thursday).

Sentence and Charges
Originally from West Belfast but with an address at Exchange Court in Newtownards, Ciaran Barry Kilifin was handed a 12-month sentence, which was suspended for two years, by Judge Gordon Kerr KC. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced, on a charge of recklessly expressing an opinion or belief that was supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely the publication of images and text on the ‘Republican Activist Coalition’ Facebook page over a period spanning from August 21, 2021 to January 10, 2022. In addition to the suspended sentence, Kilifin will be subject to terrorism notification requirements for a period of ten years.

Judge's Comments and Defense
Judge Kerr described Kilifin’s offending as “collecting on a Facebook account a number of posts which did not originate from him which had the effect, or could have had the effect, of glamorizing and encouraging Republican violent activity”. Defence barrister Stephen Toal KC, instructed by Owen Beattie solicitors, said his client “appears to have become lost in the alternative world that can exist on the internet”. He added: “For someone born in November 1997, he shouldn’t even know who Dolores Price is, let alone be quoting her views on shooting informants.” Citing a “disconnect” between his Kilifin and “actual paramilitaries”, Mr Toal said his client’s family were “deeply ashamed and angry with him that he had jeopardized his bright future by engaging in this type of behavior”.

PSNI Statement
Speaking after the sentence was imposed, the PSNI revealed that Kilifin was arrested on March 31, 2022 following an extensive investigation by the Serious Crime Branch. It followed the creation of a Facebook page and posts made on the page between August 2021 and January 2022.