Courts / Dublin / Report
Sentence reduced after explosives mule promises to disassociate from dissidents
Summary
In April 2019, John Brock, aged 46, was sentenced to eight and a half years for possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, could have caused significant death, injury and damage. Brock had previously been convicted in 2008 for firearms and ammunition. During sentencing, he agreed to an undertaking to dissociate from unlawful organisations and to refrain from further offences, and he posted a €100 bond. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, suspended the last 18 months of the sentence for three years, back‑dated to the time Brock entered custody. The court found Brock and John Roche, aged 55, were in joint control of the explosives, though the judge could not be satisfied that their involvement extended beyond transportation. Brock's sentence was reduced by the agreed undertaking.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Sentence reduced after explosives mule promises to disassociate from dissidents. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 12 Incident
- April 13, 2016 Incident
- 2019-04-29 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Outcome: Brock was previously convicted for possessing firearms and ammunition in the Special Criminal Court in 2008 and was sentenced to six years in prison. Mr Justice Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, today sentenced Brock to eight and a half years imprisonment with the last 18 months suspended for a period of three years, backdated to when he went into custody.
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