Jailed for a year for planting hoax devices

Keith McClenaghan will also spend eighteen months on licence following his release from custody.

The 41-year-old, of Moss Park, pleaded guilty to a total of five charges between April 7 and 21, last year.

They include making explosives, planting two hoax devices and two charges of communicating bomb hoaxes on April 21.

Derry Crown Court heard that shortly after 6am information was communicated to a journalist about a device outside Mr Donnelly’s home in Creggan and another outside a house in Ballymagroarty.

McClenaghan went to Strand Road Police Station later that morning and told police he had left devices at the front doors of the two properties. 

He said that he had constructed two pipe bombs using metal flasks but he had not placed detonators in the devices. However he said to the police officer: “I wouldn’t pick them up so I wouldn’t.”

The court heard that there was widespread disruption caused both in Creggan and in Ballymagroarty as a result. Almost  60 homes had to be evacuated for more than six hours.

In Creggan, a local community centre had to be opened to facilitate those who had to leave their homes and ambulances had to be made available to assist those with mobility problems.

The devices were examined and a report from a technical officer said the maker of the improvised explosive devices knew what they were doing, but had left out any means to initiate an explosion.

McClenaghan said he had found out how to make the devices from the internet and purchased the ingredients online.

The 41-year-old also admitted he had intended to carry out his plan weeks earlier but lost his nerve.

Defence counsel Kieran Mallon said it was “a most peculiar case” in that the perpetrator had actually identified himself to police.

He said his client had been “open and candid” with officers.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Babington said McClenaghan had shown “a complete lack of concern” for the disruption to the community.

He said it was apparent the defendant “never intended the devices to explode but did intend to frighten”.

The judge added it was important to note “that these offences were not committed in the context of terrorism which from time to time plagues this country.”