Three members of the "Real IRA" caught by MI5 agents in an elaborate sting operation when they were plotting to secure arms, cash and explosives in Slovakia have had their jail sentences cut by Appeal Court judges.
Fintan O'Farrell (41), Declan Rafferty (44) and Michael McDonald (46) were each jailed for 30 years at Woolwich Crown Court in May 2002 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to cause explosions and plotting to secure material for the purposes of terrorism.
They were arrested by Slovakian police liaising with British detectives in July 2001 after they travelled to Slovakia to meet what they believed was a consortium of Iraqi intelligence officers keen to supply them with cash, weaponry and explosives.
But unknown to them their contacts were MI5 agents posing as Iraqi operatives in a complex ruse to dupe the "Real IRA" into believing they were willing to sponsor their acts of terrorism.
Earlier this week the men failed in a bid at London's Appeal Court to overturn their convictions. The three judges rejected their lawyers' claims that the extradition process from Slovakia had been unfair and the entire prosecution amounted to an "abuse of process".
However, yesterday the same judges agreed to reduce the men's jail terms from 30 years to 28 and will give their reasons later.
Counsel Ben Emmerson, for the trio, argued that the 30-year terms imposed on the "foot soldiers" were "manifestly excessive" given the 20-year sentence handed down to "Real IRA" leader Michael McKevitt in the Republic.
Although he accepted that the men were not victims of "entrapment", they were nevertheless caught due to a "ruse conducted in the public interest".