A YOUNG Dundalk man has received a six-year sentence at the Special Criminal Court for having explosive components on the M1 motorway last year.
Gerard Carroll (21), of Ashling Park, Cox’s Demesne, Dundalk, Co Louth admitted the unlawful possession of explosive substances, namely a “modified 24 volt battery-operated hand tool” at Junction 17 of the M1 motorway in Dundalk on July 9th last year.
The father of one was one of five men arrested by armed gardaí during an operation against dissident republicans in the Louth and Monaghan areas.
During the case, a senior garda agreed Carroll was not a member of any dissident republican group.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Flannan Brennan, said it was tragic that such a young person had been involved, but said the court took a serious view of such offences.
Mr Justice Butler said the court would impose a six-year sentence but suspend the last two years, having regard to Carroll’s age, his lack of previous convictions and an undertaking given by him to desist from any future criminal activity.
The court heard how Carroll was intercepted by armed detectives as he drove north on the M1 in a stolen Renault Megane car placed under surveillance by gardaí.
Det Insp Anthony Lenihan told Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that a trigger-operated power drill, modified to deliver an electrical charge, was found on the passenger seat of the car.
He agreed with Mr Orange that a ballistics report detailed how a similar, modified tool, found in the same jurisdiction within the last year, was associated with an improvised explosive device.
Det Insp Lenihan agreed with Iseult O’Malley, defending, that Carroll was wearing double gloves and had put Vaseline in his hair as he believed he was moving a stolen car and was told this would prevent transfer of forensic evidence.
He agreed Carroll had not attempted to hide the drill, despite telling gardaí he suspected it had something to do with explosives.
Det Insp Lenihan agreed with Ms O’Malley that Carroll was not a member of any dissident republican group and was not involved in planning the operation.