Man behind Ballymena bomb alert jailed
A BALLYMENA man who caused a bomb alert and a six-hour stand-off with 64 police officers has been given an eight-month jail sentence.
At Antrim Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Ballymena, District Judge Nigel Broderick told 34-year-old Ryan Connolly that while he accepted the defendant’s mental health breakdown had been exacerbated by alcohol, “I’m entirely satisfied that the custody threshold is crossed”.
Appearing via video-link from jail, Connolly entered guilty pleas to causing a bomb hoax and causing criminal damage to the windows of his home on January 3 this year.
A prosecuting lawyer outlined how police were alerted to a “concern for safety” emergency call from Connolly’s brother, after the defendant sent him a picture of what appeared to be a homemade pipe bomb. Neighbouring homes on the Crebilly Road in Ballymena had to be evacuated and the court heard that when cops arrived, “the defendant stated that he had an improvised explosive device and he wanted the police to shoot him”.
Holding a piece of broken glass to his neck, Connolly also claimed he had drank bleach. The lawyer outlined how the stand-off involved specialist negotiators. It only came to an end when Connolly was Tasered and, due to his claims about ingesting bleach, was taken to hospital.
His home was searched and police found a metal pipe “that appeared to look like a pipe bomb”. Numerous windows had also been smashed.
During police interviews, Connolly “made full admissions” and the court heard that he has previous convictions.
One of those related to an incident at the Lighthouse Hostel and a seven-hour stand-off which brought Ballymena town centre “to a complete standstill” on May 31 last year. A prosecutor had outlined how staff at the hostel called police after Connolly had damaged a door, and its frame, when he “slammed it open”. When officers arrived, they found Connolly wearing a dressing gown and “carrying various items”, including knives.
Connolly, the court heard, had sustained a self-inflicted injury, so, to prevent him from hurting himself further, he was Tasered and arrested.
Yesterday, defence counsel Brendan Kearney said despite being in custody since January, none of Connolly’s mental health issues have been addressed.
Imposing the jail sentence, District Judge Broderick conceded that, even with the damage to the windows, “there is no realistic prospect of meeting a compensation order”.