A Derry man was given a seven-year prison sentence, with the last four years suspended, at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday after he pleaded guilty to having a bomb near the Border in 1995.
The court heard that Robert Anthony McGilloway had had "a rethink about his life" since contracting cancer and that he no longer wanted to associate with any illegal activity.
McGilloway (31), of Pennyburn in Derry city, with an address in Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life.
Sentencing him, Mr Justice Johnson, presiding, said McGilloway's change of mind had greatly affected the court along with his illness and his guilty plea.
The judge recommended that McGilloway be given medical attention while in prison.
Det Sgt Dennis Fallon told the court that gardai mounted a major surveillance operation in the Louth-Monaghan area and the accused man was seen on different occasions driving a Toyota van.
When the van was located at a derelict house near Longfield in Co Monaghan it was found to contain a 1,400lb bomb consisting of a homemade explosives mixture and detonating facilities.
More explosives were found in a nearby shed along with further bomb-making material.
The court heard that two other men were arrested in connection with the find and that one was jailed for 10 years and sentence on the other was adjourned for review later this year.
Mr Brendan Grogan SC, defence counsel, said his client had been through a difficult time since he was diagnosed as having cancer.