A 36-year-old man could have killed someone as well as causing untold damage when he attempted to petrol bomb a British warship during a courtesy visit to Cork, a judge said yesterday as he jailed the man for three years.
Terence O'Brien of John's Square, Blackpool, Cork, had shown little regard for life or property when he drunkenly tried to attack a Royal Navy helicopter on board the HMS Richmond on John Horgan Quay in the city on February 12th, 2005, Judge Patrick Moran said.
"What you were about to engage in can best be described as sabotage - you went out to destroy the property of another state, a ship on a goodwill visit to Cork and you had no regard for the property or life," Judge Moran said.
But for the swift and diligent action of Det Garda Jim Nyhan who rugby tackled O'Brien on the quayside before he could throw the petrol bombs at the frigate, O'Brien could have caused mayhem and loss of life, the judge noted.
Det Sgt Joe Moore told an earlier hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court how Garda Nyhan had been in his private car on the quayside when O'Brien arrived with two bottles.
He went behind the car and stuffed something into one of the bottles and lit it. He then walked quickly towards the ship but Garda Nyhan went after him and rugby tackled him to the ground with the petrol bombs smashing on the quayside.
The court heard how O'Brien had been drinking earlier that day and had brought home two cider bottles from the pub, bought petrol in a garage and made up the petrol bombs. He pleaded guilty to possessing the petrol bombs with intent to damage the ship.