Londonderry: Mortar bombs were primed for attack on police

Seamus McLaughlin, 37, from Eastway Gardens in the Creggan area of the city, admitted two terrorist offences – namely possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, and also possessing articles for terrorist purposes. Both offences were committed on March 3 last year.

Sentencing McLaughlin at Belfast Crown Court, Judge David McFarland spoke of “high potential for injuries or death” had the mortar bombs been fired at their intended target.

Outlining the Crown case against McLaughlin, prosecuting counsel Ciaran Murphy QC said the white Citreon Berlingo van was seen by police driving along the Letterkenny Road before it was stopped by officers. McLaughlin, the van’s driver, got out of the vehicle with his hands raised.

The court heard he was wearing a dark jacket zipped up to his face with the hood up, a baseball cap over a woollen hat, gloves and plastic ‘overshoes’. When he was asked by officers at the scene whether anything was going to explode in the vehicle, he didn’t respond.

In the rear of the vehicle, police found an improvised mortar system which included four launch tubes, four propelling units and four mortar bombs. These contained a quantity of explosives, were secured in a frame and were ready for deployment.

A timing device was also found in the vehicle, as was a further device designed to destroy the van. In addition, a hole had been cut in the roof of the van to enable the mortars to be fired.

The prosecutor also said that while the mortar device may have had a “crude element”, it was “nonetheless functional” and ready to be deployed. He also said it was the Crown’s view that the mortar bombs would be detonated “somewhere in the city of Derry” with the intended target likely to be a police station.

When McLaughlin was arrested and questioned, he made ‘no comment’ responses to questions put to him. However, he subsequently pleaded guilty to the two terrorist offences – an action his barrister said displayed an “acceptance of culpability.”

Defence barrister Kieran Mallon QC told the court McLaughlin had a limited criminal record which didn’t contain any offences linked to “serious violence, paramilitaries or alleged paramilitary activity”.

Mr Mallon told the court that McLaughlin had “put his time on remand to good use”, was completing educational courses and intended to “focus on his family”.

Before sentencing McLaughlin, Judge McFarland said that while he accepted the device was “not particularly sophisticated”, it was clear there had been a degree of planning, that an intended target had been identified and that the weapon was in a position to be deployed.

The judge told McLaughlin: “Given the nature of this particular offence and given the fact you would have been involved to some extent in the planning – and it was your responsibility to drive the weapon to its final firing point – you do satisfy the criteria for dangerousness.”

McLaughlin was then handed an extended custodial sentence of 12 years in custody, followed by an extended period of five years on licence.