A STUDENT who caused chaos in Dublin with firebombs because he wanted excitement has been jailed for two years.
Damien Flynn (21), with a diploma in electrical engineering, told a psychiatrist he found "life a bore and wanted to do something exciting". He wanted to outwit security staff in city centre stores, Judge Patrick Smith noted.
Flynn, a student at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, living at Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to setting fire to stock and fixtures in Easons, O'Connell Street, on May 30th, 1995.
He also admitted possessing incendiaries at Clerys, O'Connell Street, on a date from May 1st to May 5th.
Further charges included planting a device at Roches Stores in Henry Street on October 10th, 1995, and one at Bolton Street college between July 1st and August 14th last year.
Det Sgt Ciaran Daly said the blast at Easons occured within a day of the historic visit to the city by the Prince of Wales. Flynn had hidden the device among children's toys and it set fire to a display area. Massive disruption was caused in the city as the area was sealed off to look for more incendiaries.
He said a customer found an unexploded device in Clerys, which was dealt with by bomb disposal experts. However, the Roches Stores firebomb went off as it was being examined by the Army robot.
Gardai mounted an extensive investigation, and Flynn was filmed by concealed cameras stealing timer units from shops. His picture was circulated and he was identified.
A search of his bedroom in November 1995 uncovered materials for more incendiaries and he admitted the offences. Gardai were satisfied there was no paramilitary link to the case.
Mr Michael Ryan, defending, had said Flynn told his probation officer his sole pleasure was in planning, building and placing the devices.
This and other reports disclosed Flynn suffered from a sense of social isolation. He co operated on arrest, had no previous convictions and was receiving counselling.