2013-11-19
Rockett who told gardai mortars were gateposts gets five-year sentence
Stage: Sentence
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Presiding judge Mr Justice Butler said that although it would give the non-jury court "great pleasure" to pass a non-custodial sentence, the seriousness of the offence was "far too great" to consider such a tariff, particularly having regard to Rockett's "knowing involvement" in the crime. In considering sentence, Mr Justice Butler said that given the circumstances of the case, the minimum sentence would be five years in prison, and "doing the very best the court can do", the last three-and- a-half years would be suspended.; His trial began in March of this year but was adjourned after it heard evidence in a "trial within a trial" to determine the lawfulness of the accused man's detention and arrest.