Gareth Mulley receives 10-year prison term with none suspended

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Special Criminal Court sentenced Gareth Mulley (45), of Aisling Park in Dundalk, to 10 years in prison, with no portion suspended, following his conviction for unlawful possession of an explosive substance. The proceedings were reported on 31 July 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to the possession charge. The alleged possession occurred at Kilcurry Church, Co Louth, on 25 May 2014. The items listed included an adapted 50-litre beer keg, 50kg of homemade explosives made from ammonium nitrate, an improvised steel booster tube and an improvised unit providing timing and power.

The bomb was intercepted close to the border while destined for Northern Ireland.

A separate count alleged membership within the State of an unlawful organisation on 25 May 2014. The organisation was identified as Óglaigh na hÉireann, also called the Irish Republican Army or IRA. Paul Greene SC, prosecution counsel, sought a nolle prosequi on that count, asking that it not proceed.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler backdated the prison term to 1 June 2014. He said the bomb's purpose was to inflict damage and that it could cause deaths.

The judge took account of Mulley's clean record, commitment to his family and substantial involvement in Dundalk soccer. However, he said the gravity of the offence and lack of information about Mulley's future intentions ruled out suspending any of the term.