A man jailed for three years last February for his attempt to petrol bomb a British warship during a courtesy visit to Cork walked free from the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday after it suspended the rest of his sentence.
The three-judge CCA said it would suspend the balance of the sentence imposed on Terence O'Brien on condition he get treatment for his drink problem, keep the peace and co-operate with the probation services.
O'Brien (37), John's Square, Blackpool, Cork, was jailed at Cork Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Patrick Moran last February arising from his attempt to attack a Royal Navy helicopter on board the HMS Richmond on John Horgan Quay on February 12th, 2005.
O'Brien, who has eight previous convictions for public order offences, had pleaded guilty to possessing petrol bombs with intent to damage the ship.
He had worked as a carer for his brother, who has cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
Giving the CCA's judgment yesterday on O'Brien's appeal against severity of sentence, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, presiding at the three-judge court, said that the original sentence had adequately reflected the offence.
Before this offence, O'Brien had not been to prison and hopefully his experience in jail would encourage him to look at his life, the judge remarked.