Petrol bombs for protection laughable says judge

A JUDGE yesterday described as “laughable” a man’s claim that 19 “Molotov cocktails” which he had were for protecting his family.

James McDonagh (35), a settled member of the Travelling community and father of eight, received a four-year suspended sentence at the Circuit Court in Waterford yesterday for possession of explosive substances, namely petrol bombs.

During sentencing yesterday, Det Garda Seamus Halpin told Judge Rory MacCabe that McDonagh’s house, at The Crescent, St John’s Park in the city, was searched by gardaí on July 22nd last.

McDonagh pleaded guilty to the charge after the devices, along with an unloaded air rifle, were found at the house.

Judge MacCabe said yesterday: “What has been described to me . . . can be described as a civil war. There is no place in Ireland or any civilised country for a civil war, and anybody who engages in a civil war does so at their own peril. I consider it laughable that someone would possess Molotov cocktails for protection . . . it beggars belief.”

On July 22nd, gardaí secured a warrant, entered McDonagh’s home and found an “active” firearm in a bedroom, along with two buckets of the bottled cocktails, complete with fuses.

“He told gardaí he had them for his own protection because of the feud,” said Det Gda Halpin in court yesterday. The court heard McDonagh had no previous convictions at the time of the find.

“There was real fear in the city,” added Det Gda Halpin. “Tensions were high . . . there was an awful lot of violence in the city and people chose to defend their houses in different ways.” Det Gda Halpin said that “thankfully”, the violence had since died down. McDonagh was one of those who signed a peace agreement witnessed by Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Dr William Lee, last February.

Counsel for the defence, John O’Kelly SC, said his client found himself “up to his neck” in a very dangerous situation. Mr O’Kelly produced letters of character reference from Fr Sean Melody, parish priest at the Sacred Heart Church.

Judge MacCabe added: “It’s about as serious as you can imagine . . . short of having a nuclear weapon or a tank in your garden.” He handed McDonagh a suspended sentence of four years, while he was bound to the peace for four years. The charge of possession of a firearm was taken into consideration.