A Dundalk man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of explosives and bomb-making.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard that members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit found Derek Brady and another man, Kevin Murray, in a shed along with almost 1,300 pounds of explosives and the components for "a very large car bomb."
Brady (39), a father of three, of Cedarwood Park, Cox's Demesne, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to possessing 1,240 pounds of homemade explosive mixture, a detonating fuse, a time and power unit, an electrical detonator, two adapted beer kegs and two improvised booster tubes with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property at Cuchulainn Terrace, Dundalk, on March 21st, 1998.
Mr Justice Paul Butler said Brady was "caught red handed" and should receive a long custodial sentence.
Det Insp Jim Sheridan told the court when caught Brady had the components for "one of the largest bombs in recent years", though parts had not been assembled.
The court heard that Brady had failed to turn up for his trial in May, 1999 and was arrested in Dundalk last year.
Kevin Murray who was also arrested at the time was jailed for 12 years but died in prison while awaiting an appeal against the sentence.