A man who told gardaà that mortar launch tubes he manufactured on behalf of a dissident republican engineering network were gateposts has been given a five-year sentence. David Rockett (31), of Grawn Lower, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford this morning pleaded guilty to the possession of three mortar launch tubes on what was the fourth day of his Special Criminal Court trial. Presiding judge Mr Justice Butler said that although it would give the non-jury court âgreat pleasureâ to pass a non-custodial sentence, the seriousness of the offence was âfar too greatâ to consider such a tariff, particularly having regard to Rockettâs âknowing involvementâ in the crime. In considering sentence, Mr Justice Butler said that given the circumstances of the case, the minimum sentence would be five years in prison, and âdoing the very best the court can doâ, the last three-and- a-half years would be suspended. Rockett was one of three men arrested by gardaà in September 2011 during an investigation in to the activities of dissident republicans in the south-east of the country. His trial began in March of this year but was adjourned after it heard evidence in a âtrial within a trialâ to determine the lawfulness of the accused manâs detention and arrest. The State did not proceed with the charges against Rockettâs co-accused. This morning, Rockett pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of three mortar launch tubes on dates unknown between January 1st, 2011 and September 22nd, 2011 inclusive. The charges include the unlawful possession of two mortar launch tubes at his home address and the unlawful possession of one mortar launch tube at Military Road, Killadangan, Co Waterford. Det Sgt Siobhan Keating told Garnet Orange BL, prosecuting, that the investigation in to the offence was part of an operation coordinated by gardaà in Waterford against a dissident republican engineering network. At the opening of the prosecution case, Mr Orange told the non-jury court that the accused man was a highly skilled metal worker employed at a long-established and reputable engineering firm, which enabled him access to the materials required to build mortar tubes to plan. He said Rockett was the person who âmanufacturedâ the three mortar tubes seized by gardaà after a search of the home of another man arrested during the same investigation. Det Sgt Keating said gardaà who simultaneously searched Rockettâs car found a schematic drawing for the mortar tubes uncovered at the other manâs address. She told Mr Orange that when the mortar launch tubes were shown to Rockett, he told gardaà they were gate posts he had been asked to manufacture. Rockett later admitted that he knew the ultimate purpose of the tubes, but told gardaà he manufactured them because he was âstuckâ for money and the consequences of his actions âdidnât stickâ in his mind until his arrest. Counsel for the accused man, Micheal OâHiggins SC, asked the court to be âas lenient as possibleâ when considering sentence. He said Rockett was the primary carer for his mother, who is ill, and facilitated weekly visits back to the family home for his sister, who is in residential care. However, Mr OâHiggins said nothing could take away from the âhigh and profoundâ seriousness of the offence, and told the court the accused man acknowledged his âdisgraceful activityâ which had brought âshame and embarrassmentâ to his family, who are highly regarded. Taking to the stand, Rockett told Mr OâHiggins that he wished to apologise to the court and give an undertaking never to engage âin anything like thatâ again. He said it was intention to take up work as a metal fabricator with a Waterford steel company and return to college to complete a degree course. When he was asked by Judge John OâHagan if he knew what the word âmortarâ meant, Rockett replied affirmatively, but when asked if he knew the meaning of the word at the time he carried out the offence, he replied ânot particularlyâ. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Butler said the mortar tubes were âexceedingly serious devicesâ and the court graphically remembered evidence of their sophisticated nature. He said the court noted the accused man had said he did not appreciate the seriousness of the matter, but the Oireachtas regarded the offence as a very serious matter and had provided for a maximum sentence of 14 years. However, he said the court noted that Rockett had pleaded guilty and was of otherwise âexcellent characterâ despite a previous drugs offence which was disposed of by way of a fine and which the court did not consider relevant. Mr Justice Butler said the court also noted that the case against Rockett was largely made by himself. He said that Rockett was to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of three-and-a-half years after his release. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crim...-told-gardaí-mortars-were-gateposts-1.1599995