Man who built explosives timer on bail gets 12 years

A MAN who constructed a timer for an explosive device months after gardaí uncovered a huge cache of explosive components in a shed at his parent’s home has been jailed for 12 years at the Special Criminal Court.

Nicholas Kendall, aged 21, of Row Street, Wexford, had pleaded guilty to nine counts relating to the unlawful possession of a variety of explosive substances, including chemical components for Semtex, components of fusing systems for mortar bombs, improvised timing power units, explosive propellant powder and clothes pegs adapted to act as electro-mechanical switches.

Gardaí found the cache after raids on his parent’s rural home at Springcrest, Keelogues, Barntown, Co Wexford, and a house at Cortown, Togher, Dunleer, Co Louth, on October 8, 2010.

Kendall also pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a component part of a timing power unit and a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic model SW 9F pistol in Co Louth on that date.

He also pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a component part of a timing power unit designed for initiating an explosive device, found at Barntown while he was on bail on February 18.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, said this was a “tragic case” involving a very young man with no previous convictions.

He said the court regarded the appropriate sentence for the offences committed on October 8, 2010, to be one of six years.

He said Kendall’s possession of a timing power unit last February was of a “far more serious” character.

Mr Justice Butler said the appropriate term is this regard was a consecutive six-year sentence.