Man who planted pipebomb is jailed

A 27 year old man who planted a pipebomb on the outskirts of Sligo town and then informed gardaí of the explosive device’s location has been sentenced to a total of 21 months in prison.

Kyle Jinks, formerly of The Woodlands, Ballytivnan was previously before Sligo Circuit Court via video link where it was heard he placed a pipebomb at Rathbraughan Lineon July 8th, 2017. The court was told Jinks then rang a garda who was investigating another matter he was involved in at the time and told him the location of the bomb.

Gardaí subsequently cordoned off the area to traffic and the army bomb disposal unit was called. A Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to approach the device and safely inspect it was used. It was discovered that the pipe bomb could not be detonated remotely. Wearing a bomb suit, Comdt Neil Kelly approached the device, and placed it in a bomb containment unit before it was conveyed to the army barracks in Athlone.

The court previously heard Jinks made an allegation that a garda told him if he could come up with a weapon to give to gardaí he would be helped in relation to another offence he was before the courts for. This allegation was later investigated by GSOC and there was no foundation to the claim. Jinks later apologised in a letter to the court to the garda, Garda Damien Grimes. It was suggested to the court that Jinks planted the bomb and informed gardaí of its whereabouts in order to come across as a ‘ hard man’ and to impress them. However, Judge Comerford said there was more calculation than that, and he wanted to be rewarded in his other outstanding court case even though this was not going to be achieved. The false allegations against the garda had caused distress to the officer.

In sentencing Jinks to three and a half years in prison, with half of the sentence suspended, and backdated to November 6 th last, Judge Francis Comerford said Jinks had put forward ‘untruths’ as to how he came into possession of the device. He told gardaí he overheard men talking in a pub about it, and also that a relation of his in Limerick had supplied it to him.

Although it was not known how sophisticated the device was and it did not pose an immediate risk of exploding, the device was filled with explosive substances, metals, shotgun pellets and rivets which would have acted as shrapnel. The judge described the device as an ‘anti personnel weapon’ that could injure people. However, the judge added that it appeared Jinks had no intention the pipebomb was to be deployed to cause harm.

The judge said it was still unclear where he got the pipebomb and he identified the source of it to someone he had strong animosity towards. Judge Comerford said it was tenable as a motive that Jinks wanted that person to be arrested so he would be brought to prison where Jinks was and he could attack him.

The judge described the offence of being in possession of the pipebomb as being very serious and said it was hard to see how a number of years in prison could not be imposed. The court was told the judge accepted Jinks was not part of organised crime and in light of the unusual circumstances that the device was handed over to gardaí a headline sentence of four years was indicated. It was accepted Jinks had a troubled background, and at one stage was in care for a number of months.

The judge accepted the father of two had ongoing challenges with mental health and though his risk of violence was low, he does have vengeful thoughts for the man referred to as being the supplier of the bomb. In relation to the allegations made against the garda, the judge said no person in any profession should have any ‘spur cast upon them’.

Jinks must abstain from substances upon his release from prison and engage in an anger management course or therapy. A destruction order was made for the explosive.