The jury at Antrim Crown Court cleared Constable McNeill of all charges
A County Londonderry policeman has been cleared of having too many weapons in his home and not enough firearm certificates to cover them.
Ryan McNeill, 28, whose address was given as Limavady PSNI station was cleared of 15 separate gun charges at Antrim Crown Court.
Police discovered the arms cache at his home in December 2008.
Mr McNeill said he was holding the weapons for a legitimate gun dealer for whom he worked part-time.
At no time during the five-day trial did the prosecution claim that Mr McNeill had the weapons for any illicit purposes.
Mr McNeill faced 10 counts of possessing a number of guns, including a sub machinegun, two pistols, a Magnum revolver, a shotgun and over 60 rounds of ammunition and a magazine.
The other five charges related to him having several so-called prohibited weapons designed to discharge electricity or noxious liquid or gas.
At no time during the five-day trial did the prosecution claim that Mr McNeill had the weapons for any illicit purposes.
Crown lawyer Neil Connor, in final submissions said "there is no suggestion he was about to start World War III ..... or about to rob a bank or hold-up an off licence".
The jury accepted Mr McNeill's claims that the prohibited firearms were simply decommissioned blank-firing weapons which had been stamped accordingly.
The jury rejected prosecution claims that the policeman had the weapons for his own recreational purposes and was therefore not covered by the general firearms licence of his gun-dealer boss.
They also rejected the evidence of a prosecution firearms' expert who said although some of the weapons could not fire live ammunition, they were 'forward venting' meaning they could be used to fire cartridges filled with gas, such as CS or mace.
Speaking afterwards, the suspended constable said he was "exceptionally relieved at the verdict".
"My life has been on hold these past two years, although I have been delighted by the support I have received from my family, friends and work colleagues," he said.
