Men who admitted bombings at Sinn Féin members’ homes avoid prison – The Irish News

Two men who admitted carrying out fake bombings at the homes of senior Sinn Féin members have avoided a prison sentence.

Finton Geraghty and Christopher Maxwell were each given an enhanced combination order consisting of 100 hours of unpaid work and three years probation.

Geraghty, 46, of Ivy Hill in Lisburn, County Antrim, pleaded guilty to giving a false bomb warning to a priest.

It was alleged that devices were present in the homes of Sinn Féin MP John Finucane and councilor Seanna Walsh.

Co-defendant Maxwell, 47, of Blackstaff Mews in Belfast, pleaded guilty to a similar offence.

A member of staff at the Sinn Féin office at Connolly House on Falls Road was told about a device.

Maxwell also pleaded guilty to planting an article at Connolly House that caused a bomb hoax.

The pair also pleaded guilty to providing false information to a PSNI operator that a device was present at Avoniel Leisure Center in east Belfast.

Judge Gordon Kerr KC said that while he was dealing with serious offenses that would normally be punishable by a custodial sentence, the prosecution said there had been “no catastrophic disorder”.

He noted that Maxwell “has an appalling record of over 230 previous criminal convictions, but there is nothing similarly sinister or terrorist-related on his record.”

The judge said Geraghty was in breach of a suspended sentence at the time of his offending

Judge Kerr imposed the enhanced combination order, stating that both defendants were equally guilty.