British soldier fined for carrying Rambo-like arsenal

30/12/2005 - 08:36:26
A 21-year-old British soldier who was compared in court to the movie character Rambo has been fined £600 (€873) in the North after being caught with an arsenal of illegal weapons.

The Scottish man, stationed in Omagh, Co Tyrone, was arrested after a gas-operated pistol, an extendable baton and a Kubaton with a concealed blade was found in his luggage as he boarded a ferry in Belfast in June 2004.

Private Garry McGeachie said he bought the items in an army surplus store and his defence solicitor said yesterday that the situation was similar to a surgeon carrying his operating knives.

However, the presiding judge said Mr McGeachie should have known that he cannot carry around such weaponry and fined the soldier £600, as well as ordering the destruction of the offending items.