​Two men sentenced for terrorist offences including deploying a camera to monitor and target retired police officer

Following a lengthy trial, Damien Duffy (56) from from Westclare Court in Dungannon and 31-year old Shea Reynolds from Kilwilkie Road in Lurgan were convicted of six joint offences committed over a timeframe between September 3 and 21, 2016.

They were back in the dock of Belfast Crown Court today where they were sentenced by Judge Patricia Smyth for offences she said were "committed in pursuit of violent Republicanism."

Duffy was handed an extended custodial sentence comprising of 12 years and six months in prison with an extended licence period of five years.

An extended custodial sentence of 11 years and six month in prison with an extended licence period of five years was handed to Reynolds.

Both men were also made the subject of the Terrorist Notification Act for a 30-year period.

As she sentenced the pair, Judge Smyth said: "The specific targeting of a retired police officer is a very grave matter.

"This involved a well researched plan to obtain information to enable an attack upon his life.

"The attempt to obtain that information was only foiled by the police."

"The nature and the harm to which the offending was directed was to endanger life."

During the trial, it emerged that on the evening of September 4, 2016 both men were involved in deploying the wildlife camera on the Annaghone Road in Coalisland.

They travelled from Lurgan to Coalisland in a grey Volkwagon Golf driven by Reynolds where they deployed the device.

The camera remained in situ until September 8, 2016 when the pair returned to retrieve it.

It was then deployed in the driveway of the home of a retired police officer on September 14, 2016.

The following morning, he spotted the item and contacted the PSNI who replaced the camera with a dummy.

Duffy and Reynolds then returned to the scene on September 20, 2016 and removed what was now a dummy camera.

Following their arrests, Duffy made no reply whilst Reynolds said 'I have no knowledge whatsoever that the camera was to be used for the acts of terrorism.'

At the conclusion of the non-jury trial, Judge Smyth found both men guilty of two counts of the preparation of terrorist acts, two counts of possessing articles for use in terrorism and two counts of attempting to collect or make records of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

During today's sentencing, Judge Smyth described their offending as a "persistent course of conduct carried out over a number of weeks."

She said that in her view Duffy and Reynolds were "not acting as lone wolves" which was based on evidence heard during the trial including a similar wildlife camera and manual found in the homes of other suspects.

The Judge added: "Both defendants have been convicted of being principal participants and there is no doubt of the danger posed by those involved in dissident Republican activity who consider serving and retired police officers to be legitimate targets of attack.

"Neither defendant has accepted responsibility for these offences and no remorse has been shown."

Dessie Hutton KC, representing Reynolds, pointed out there was "no charge involving actual violence or alleged membership".

Revealing his client, who has a clear criminal record, has spend almost seven years on remand, Mr Hutton said Reynolds has used his time in custody "fitfully".

Duffy's barrister Brendan Kelly KC said that whilst his client has a terrorist conviction dating back to 1993, there was "no suggestion" Duffy has re-offended since his arrest for the offences involving the wildlife camera.

Mr Kelly also spoke of the "positive steps" Duffy takes within his local community which includes supporting local sports.

Noting Duffy's "highly relevant" previous offending was for attempting to obtain information relating to serving members of UDR and RUC, Judge Smyth said that whilst more that 30 years has elapsed "he remains committed to terrorist activity."

Regarding Reynolds, the Judge said his long period on remand which did not result in an admission of guilt, despite overwhelming evidence, was a "matter of considerable concern ... that can only demonstrate a continued commitment to the commission of such offences."

Deeming both men to be dangerous offenders, Judge Smyth imposed the extended custodial sentences which she said were necessary to protect the public.

As both men were led back into custody by prison staff, they acknowledged their loved ones in the public gallery.