Courts / Louth / Report

Louth man to be sentenced for bomb possession

Date
2017-01-23
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dundalk
County
Louth

Summary

Philip McKevitt, 62, of Dundalk, was remanded in custody at the Special Criminal Court until February 13th for sentencing. The three-judge panel, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, deferred the sentence following his conviction for the possession of explosive substances. McKevitt was found guilty after a 21-day trial of possessing adapted gas cylinders and other materials in his shed in May 2010. His co-accused, Conan Murphy, 29, had previously pleaded guilty to the same offence and was jailed for six years. Prosecution evidence detailed the seizure of two altered gas cylinders, 52 bags of glucose, and 377 metres of command wire. McKevitt's DNA was found on one cylinder. This is his second conviction for the offence; a previous 2012 verdict was overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal, directing a re-trial. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness SC argued McKevitt was not the mastermind and cited his age and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, requesting a suspended portion of the sentence. The court ordered McKevitt remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing on February 13th.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Louth man to be sentenced for bomb possession. Charges or matters: the same offence. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Case subjects

Conan Murphy

Convicted Person

Outcome: Conan Murphy (29), son of a man found civilly liable for the Omagh bombing in 1998, was jailed for six years.; Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, remanded McKevitt in custody until February 13th, when he will be sentenced.

Philip McKevitt

Convicted Person

Charges: the same offence (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, remanded McKevitt in custody until February 13th, when he will be sentenced.; Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, remanded McKevitt in custody until February 13th, when he will be sentenced.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
Residence
Facility
  • McKevitt's house
  • Aghaboys. The house

Topics

Stage Sentence

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