Courts / Louth / Report

Louth man sentenced to eight years over beer keg bomb

Date
2015-10-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Louth

County
Louth

Summary

David Gallagher, 38, of Marley Court, Drogheda, pleaded guilty on 25 May 2014 to possession of explosive substances and devices, including PETN, RDX, a 50‑litre beer keg adapted as a bomb, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, an improvised detonation cord, steel booster tube and time‑and‑power unit. He was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to eight years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, back‑dated to 20 August last year. The court noted that the bomb was armed, completed and ready to be moved, and that Gallagher had no prior convictions of significance. He was observed by detectives transferring the bomb from his van to a red Volkswagen Passat, where it was found. Gallagher gave evidence that he had no intention of future involvement in republican military activity and applied for transfer from Portlaise to Castlerea Prison. The judges considered his lesser role compared with Gareth Mulley, who received ten years' imprisonment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Louth man sentenced to eight years over beer keg bomb. Charges or matters: possession of an explosive substance on May 25th, 2014 at Kilcurry, Co Louth. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 25th, 2014 Incident
May 25th Hearing Or Sentence
August 20th Other
2015-10-13 Publication

Case subjects

David Gallagher

Convicted Person

Charges: possession of an explosive substance on May 25th, 2014 at Kilcurry, Co Louth (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, of the Special Detective Unit, gave evidence today at Mr Gallagher's sentence hearing. Mr Gallagher's sentence was backdated to August 20th last year, with two years suspended for a period of two years.

Gareth Mulley

Convicted Person

Outcome: Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, of the Special Detective Unit, gave evidence today at Mr Gallagher's sentence hearing.