Man who planted hoax bomb at court awaits sentence

A former ESB worker who planted a hoax bomb at the main entrance of The Four Court buildings two years ago closing it and Dublin's Inn's Quay for two hours, has been remanded on bail pending sentence.

William McGuinness (aged 57) of Oliver Bond Street Flats, Dublin 8, was seen on CCTV footage walking his dog on the Quays before taking the non-explosive device from a plastic bag and placing it behind a pillar at the building.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to creating a public nuisance on July 27, 2005. Further charges of possession of shot gun cartridges, which he told gardaí he found near his home and possession of an air rifle and pellets, without a license, were taken into account.

Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned the case to next February and ordered the preparation of a probation report.

Sergeant Mark Waters told Mr Patrick McGrath BL, prosecuting, that the device did not pose a threat to the public, was not able to explode and did not have a timing device attached.

It was made up of a metal pipe, an aerosol can, various wires, a circuit board, batteries and putty, which were all held together by masking tape. Forensic analysis concluded that it was "at best an amateur hoax device".

Gardaí were called after security staff spotted the device at 7.45am that morning. The Four Courts were closed and secured for two hours as were Inn's Quay, while the army and Gardaí examined the suspect bomb.

McGuinness was easily identified by gardaí because, although he had no previous convictions, he was known in the area as he was regularly seen out walking his dog.

He had no explanation for planting the device but later accepted a Garda suggestion that it was "a cry for help".

He told them that he suffered from a nervous disability and had "a bad side" because of the drugs he had to take.

Sgt Waters agreed with Ms Iseult O'Malley SC, defending, that her client was badly assaulted and left with multiple facial fractures after he was beaten up by a group of drug dealers from his local area.

He further agreed that McGuinness did not fully appreciate at the time the extent to which the business of the courts and the city's traffic would be affected.

Sgt Waters accepted that McGuinness had a drink problem which led to the breakdown of his marriage and him losing his job at ESB.

Ms O'Malley said her client came across the victim of a serious assault at Christchurch in Dublin last year and his intervention in calling an ambulance, may have assisted the victim in making a full recovery.

She asked Judge Delahunt to accept that McGuinness was not a man standing trial that day that wanted the business of the courts disrupted nor did he hold "a grudge against the judiciary".

"Rather he was a socially isolated man who was looking for attention. He is not a dangerous man and device the posed no risk to the public," Ms O'Malley said.