A Co Dublin pensioner was given a 10-year suspended jail sentence at the Special Criminal Court yesterday after he pleaded guilty to storing Semtex explosives for the Provisional IRA at his home last year.
Det Insp Tony Fennessy said the haul was "one of the largest finds of Semtex in the State in recent years".
The court was told that John Galvin (69), a retired labourer, was asked to keep the Semtex and other bomb-making equipment at his home by his nephew. Mr Justice Barr, presiding, said the court was satisfied that Galvin was "ruthlessly used and pressurised on behalf of the IRA".
Galvin pleaded guilty to having nine slabs of Semtex weighing 22.5 kilograms, 14 improvised incendiary devices, eight improvised timers and 13 detonators at his home at Glasmore Park, Swords, Co Dublin, on November 7th last. He also admitted having a .22 calibre pistol, a .22 calibre machine pistol, an imitation revolver and three magazines and 209 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Mr Gregory Murphy SC, prosecuting, said that when Special Branch detectives raided Galvin's house he told them: "It's no use hiding the stuff any longer. There is a bag out the back in the shed." Galvin pointed out the bag containing the Semtex to the gardai and another bag containing other material under the stairs.
Mr Murphy said Galvin had been asked to mind the explosives by his nephew.
Det Insp Fennessy said Galvin was used by the Provisional IRA to store the explosives because of his ill-health. He'd had two hip operations and was awaiting a heart bypass operation. He said that Galvin, who had no previous convictions, was not active in republican circles.
The court sentenced Galvin to 10 years' imprisonment, suspended on condition that he undertook not to associate with any unlawful organisations.