Courts / Dublin / Report

"Naive" man avoids jail for letting IRA take explosives

Date
2019-04-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Rathcoole

County
Dublin

Summary

Larry Behan, 41, pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in the possession of explosives at his father's quarry on 13 April 2016. He opened the gates to two men, John Roche and John Brock, who removed 57 kg of homemade explosives and 38 kg of Kemegel industrial explosives. Behan had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí, and admitted his role immediately after arrest. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the case as "unusual" with "exceptional circumstances" and imposed a headline sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years on a €100 bond. Behan must keep the peace and be of good behaviour during the suspension. The court noted his lack of political association and his genuine fear for himself and his family. The case remains an ongoing criminal proceeding, with no further verdicts announced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Naive" man avoids jail for letting IRA take explosives. Charges or matters: knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA in the performance or furtherance of an unlawful object (namely the possession of explosives) by facilitating access by other persons to the Quarry, L. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 13, 2016 Incident
April 14, 2016 Incident
April 13 Hearing Or Sentence
2019-04-29 Publication

Why: The investigation showed that these men had made contact with the defendant in order to lift the gate to the quarry but there had been "no personal interaction" between Behan and the men, the judge said. CNI source report

Case subjects

John Brock

Convicted Person

Charges: knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA in the performance or furtherance of an unlawful object (namely the possession of explosives) by facilitating access by other persons to the Quarry, L (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: John Brock (46), with an address at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 were each sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of possessing 57kg of homemade explosives, consisting of ammonium nitrate fuel mix, and thirty-eight 2.5kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives at Naas Road, Dublin 12, on April 13, 2016.

John Roche

Convicted Person

Outcome: John Roche (55), of Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8 and John Brock (46), with an address at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 were each sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of possessing 57kg of homemade explosives, consisting of ammonium nitrate fuel mix, and thirty-eight 2.5kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives at Naas Road, Dublin 12, on April 13, 2016.

Larry Behan

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Passing sentence today, Mr Justice Hunt said Behan had not been a person of interest to gardai in the context of subversive activity. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, sentenced Behan to two years in prison and suspended it for those two years on his own bond of €100.