AN Irishman on trial at the Old Bailey in London said yesterday that he decided to give evidence because there were "a lot of distortions in the case."
Mr Gerard Hanratty (38) insisted he was not part of an IRA plot to bomb electricity supply stations in the southeast of England, as alleged, but only planned to trick the authorities and cause chaos with dummy devices.
The prosecution alleges he was part of an IRA active service unit which plotted to attack six national grid substations in the southeast. Mr Nigel Sweeney, prosecuting, told the jury the conspiracy was foiled by a joint police and security services operation.
"There was never any explosives or explosive traces in this case," Mr Hanratty said. "It is one thing to go to prison for a great expanse of years. It is another thing for me to go to jail for very extensive years on the basis of evidence which is not true."
He told the court that when he was arrested he decided that he was "caught with my trousers down take what I am given and that is the end of it."
Police then told him that explosives traces had been found in cars. "At that point and at this point in time, I think you know and I know, there was never any explosives involved," he said.