Courts / Waterford / Report

Rockett who told gardai mortars were gateposts gets five-year sentence

Date
2013-11-19

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Waterford

Summary

David Rockett, 31, of Grawn Lower, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to possessing three mortar launch tubes manufactured for a dissident republican engineering network. The tubes were seized during a 2011 investigation; Rockett admitted he knew their purpose but claimed he was motivated by financial need. He told Gardaí the tubes were gateposts. The Special Criminal Court sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the last three‑and‑a‑half years suspended. Rockett was one of three men arrested in September 2011; the trial began in March 2014 but was adjourned after a "trial within a trial" on his detention. The State did not pursue charges against his co‑accused. The court noted Rockett's guilty plea, his otherwise good character, and his role as primary carer for his ill mother. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the court's view that Rockett had not appreciated its gravity.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rockett who told gardai mortars were gateposts gets five-year sentence. Charges or matters: the possession of three mortar launch tubes on what was the fourth day of his Special Criminal Court trial; the unlawful possession of three mortar launch tubes on dates unknown between January 1st, 2011 and September 22nd, 2011 inclusive. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

September 2011 Adjournment
January 1st, 2011 Incident
September 22nd, 2011 Incident
2013-11-19 Publication

Why: Rockett later admitted that he knew the ultimate purpose of the tubes, but told gardai that he manufactured them because he was "stuck" for money and the consequences of his actions "didn't stick" in his mind until his arrest. CNI source report

Case subjects

David Rockett

Defendant

Charges: the possession of three mortar launch tubes on what was the fourth day of his Special Criminal Court trial; the unlawful possession of three mortar launch tubes on dates unknown between January 1st, 2011 and September 22nd, 2011 inclusive (Admitted)

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.