Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 3:04pm

Lisnaskea bomb maker jailed for nine years

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A Lisnaskea man has been jailed for nine years after he was caught making pipe-bombs in an apartment in Dublin two years ago.

Terry McConnell (26) originally from Donagh but with an address at Tullymore Gardens, Andersonstown along with Cormac Fitzpatrick (23) of Cathedral Walk in Monaghan were convicted before Christmas for unlawfully possessing explosive materials.

The explosives were found at a house at The Crescent, Park West Pointe, Clondalkin, on September 9, 2008.

Sentencing at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin last week, Mr Justice Paul Butler said the offence was of "a very serious nature" and that both men had been caught "virtually red-handed".

Their trial last year heard how enough explosive material to fully construct four pipe bombs was discovered when members of the Special Detective Unit raided the flat on September 9, 2008.

Armed detectives found Fitzpatrick and McConnell, who are both found to be members of the INLA, in the bathroom, wearing latex gloves.

Among the paraphernalia found were four black pieces of steel piping, nails, bulbs, batteries, surgical gloves and propellant powder as well as a clock with wiring coming from it, two batteries and a plate containing an explosive substance that had been scorched or burnt.

Seven travel alarm clocks were also discovered, some of which had been adapted to act as "timers".

Both men tried to claim that they innocently ended up in the bathroom wearing latex gloves and surrounded by bomb-making equipment, but the judges rejected their explanations.

The court heard Fitzpatrick, a plumber, had been "honest and considerate" at school and that he did not accept his conviction.

McConnell's sentence was backdated by four months to account for time already served in custody. Fitzpatrick's sentence was backdated by two months.

The three-judge court said the sentence took into account the fact that neither man had any previous convictions, that they had both been of good character prior to the incident and that they suffered from health problems.