Five Derry city men were each jailed for six years for arms possession by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday. The court heard they had two assault rifles, ammunition and a loaded rocket-launcher at a training camp in the Malin area of Co Donegal last October. They were arrested in a shed at a remote farm.
Mr Justice Barr said the court was satisfied the men were arrested at "an arms depot used by a terrorist organisation in connection with the training of its members".
He said the training in lethal weapons was "part of the stock in trade of terrorism." The five were at the depot "either as instructors or trainees". He said such depots "play an important role in preparing members for terrorist crime."
Mr Justice Barr said taking part in the training "amounted to serious criminal behaviour." The court wanted to make it clear that people involved in such activity would receive substantial jail sentences.
He said the court wanted to record its appreciation of the "skill and heroism" of Det Garda Noel Jones and Det Garda James Breslin in apprehending the men. He asked that this be conveyed to the Garda Commissioner.
The judge ordered that the sentences run from October 27th last, when the five were arrested. They are Patrick Kavanagh (34), from Chamberlain Street; Hugh Wilkinson (44), from Dunmore Gardens; Paul Murray (25), from College Glen; Bernard O'Hagan (36), from Hatmore Park; and Patrick Gerard McCartney (46), from Glenowen Park.
They were convicted of having two AKM assault rifles, 100 rounds of ammunition, a rocket launcher and a projectile containing Semtex at Ballygorman, Malin, on October 27th. They were cleared on Wednesday of more serious charges of having the guns, ammunition and a rocket launcher with intent to endanger life.
Supt Tom Long, of Buncrana, said none of the men had previous convictions.
There was applause from friends and relatives in the public gallery as the five men were led to the cells.
The three-day trial heard the five put up no resistance when arrested. Gardai recovered guns, ammunition and equipment.