By Fiona Ferguson
A man found with four pipe bombs in the back of his van believed to be related to an ongoing feud between organised crime groups has been jailed for six and a quarter years.
Les Byrne (49) was discovered with the devices when gardai searched his van on March 24, 2024 when they noticed an “overwhelming” smell of cannabis in the vicinity.
Byrne, of Shancastle Park, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having the four explosive devices in his possession or under his control. He has 24 previous convictions.
Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said Byrne was acting under instructions from third parties, but said he was vital, noting someone has to carry and hold items.
Judge Nolan set a headline sentence of 10 years, noting these were potentially lethal weapons.
The judge said he must have been desperate as he was doing it for very little money but said he had decided as a mature man of the world to do this.
He noted his guilty plea, co-operation and that he had family responsibilities.
Judge Nolan sentenced him to six and a quarter years imprisonment.
Garda Aaron Murphy told Breffni Gordon SC, prosecuting, that he and a colleague were on mobile patrol in the Clondalkin area and arrived into a retail park on Fonthill Road.
Gda Murphy said the area had a high volume of shops and pedestrians.
In the car park Gda Murphy noted an overwhelming smell of cannabis and found it was coming from a van parked irregularly in the area.
He confronted the driver, who was acting suspiciously and seemed nervous.
Byrne was compliant with the search of the van.
The garda said the van was very messy and his eye was drawn to a clean Sainsburys bag in the back of the van.
He opened the bag and discovered the four pipe bombs inside.
He was unsure what they were at first but noticed the fuses and realised the extent of what had been discovered.
The area was secured and the devices made safe.
They were later examined and found to be effective bombs.
The garda said the possession of the devices was believed to be related to an ongoing feud in the area between two organised crime groups (OCG) which has escalated in recent times with arson attacks, intimidation and attacks on homes.
Gda Murphy said the accused man’s phone was analysed and it was found Byrne was being directed what to do by a person serving a lengthy prison sentence.
It is accepted Byrne was on a “low rung” in relation to the OCGs. He was to receive €500 for his involvement.
The garda agreed with Michael Hourican SC, defending, that Byrne was being used to store the items and that his role was to be given something to hold on to until it was taken.
The garda agreed the text messages seen by gardai between Byrne and another individual outlined that at a certain point, Byrne became aware of what he had and immediately wanted to get rid of them, using expletives towards the person who gave him the items.
The garda agreed with counsel that there was a long series of messages in which Byrne said he didn’t want the items.
He agreed that Byrne was operating under the influence of others.
Mr Hourican said his client had been acting under the influence of “people of influence” who exert “soft and hard power” in the locality.
He asked the court to take into account the test messages showing that at some point he became aware of what he had and was deeply unhappy, subsequently making ongoing efforts to rid himself of the items.
He said Byrne was “at the bottom of the food chain” and was “disposable and dispensable”.
He accepted Byrne had a previous history but had kept his head down for a long time.
Counsel said Byrne had a work history and was a carer for his mother who was very ill.