Clonmel man caught carrying pipe-bombs and gun to further IRA activities has jail sentence upheld

A Tipperary man caught carrying two pipe bombs and a pistol to further the activities of the IRA has had his sentence upheld on appeal. 

Dylan Cahill (24), of Lower Irishtown, Clonmel pleaded guilty to the possession of a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of .380 calibre ammunition at Sradrine, Glefarne, Co Leitrim on May 13th, 2015.

He also pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to the possession of two improvised explosive devices, or pipe-bombs, at the same place on the same date. 

The Special Criminal Court heard gardai on traffic duty stopped a maroon VW Passat on the day in question after reports the car had left a filling station without paying for fuel.

The car was driven by Cahill and the passenger was John Burke. When gardai searched the car they found a plastic shopping bag on the floor of the front passenger seat. The pistol and pipe bombs were in the bag.

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding alongside Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, sentenced Cahill to six years in prison, with the final year suspended.

The Court of Appeal upheld Cahill’s sentence today.

President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said there was no basis for suggesting the imposition of the mandatory minimum sentence of five years for possession of a firearm could amount to an error in principle. 

He said the carrying of a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition and a pipe bomb in furtherance of the activities of an illegal organisation, "the IRA", was a very serious offence. 

Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Ms Justice Máire Whelan and Ms Justice Marie Baker, dismissed the appeal.