Man jailed after making hoax bomb call

Newtownards Magistrates Court heard that 38-year-old David McCarroll used his own mobile phone when he told a police 999 emergency operator there was a pipe bomb on Main Street in the seaside town on June 2 last year.

A prosecuting lawyer described how McCarroll was arrested within a short time as his mobile phone was on the police register as he had used it to contact police in relation to a different matter.

During police questioning McCarroll, from Whitehill Drive, claimed he had sold the phone but on Friday he pleaded guilty to communicating false information causing a belief there was likely to be an explosion.

His defence solicitor said given the fact McCarroll had used his own phone, “he was always going to be caught” and that thankfully, “no great inconvenience was caused.”

The lawyer revealed that McCarroll was jailed for 15 months for a wounding offence last January with a release date in April next year, adding that this current offence carried a maximum six month sentence.

Jailing McCarroll for three months to be served concurrently, DJ Mullan said given the “considerable” number of previous offences on his record “you are making a nuisance of yourself.”