A Belfast man who set fire to a church, causing £2,000 worth of damage, has been given an 18-month suspended sentence. Gary McClure (27), from Rathmullan Drive, Rathcoole, pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to throwing two petrol bombs at the church on Shore Street on December 13th, 1996.
Witnesses said that before the attack McClure was staggering around a garage forecourt where he had filled two milk bottles with petrol.
Crown counsel said he was covered with petrol and was "lucky he didn't set himself on fire". After hearing that McClure developed a drink problem when his father was killed by the IRA, Mr Justice Coghlin warned him that the suspended sentence was not a "let-off" but a second chance.