Barry Francis Petticrew is the latest dissident republican to find himself facing many years behind bars as a result of involvement in what is a futile and pointless campaign of violence.
At Antrim Crown Court yesterday, Petticrew a 45-year-old father of two, was sentenced to 11 years in jail plus three years on licence after admitting possessing explosives with intent to endanger life and other serious charges.
He had been effectively caught red handed at a major bomb making factory on a farm near Kinawley, Co Fermanagh in October 2014.
An undercover surveillance operation filmed him moving equipment from a van and when he realised he had been spotted, he tried to escape across countryside.
He was caught and the bomb factory was found to be highly significant in terms of the scale and the nature of the material found there.
The haul uncovered by police included timer power units, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, a mortar base and disposable suits and gloves.
A particularly chilling find was 500 kg of high grade nitro based fertiliser used in home made explosives. As has already been noted, this quantity is more than double the amount used in the Omagh bomb in 1998.
The seizure of this deadly material marks a considerable success for the police whose actions may well have saved lives.
Certainly, the wider public will be relieved that this weaponry is no longer in the hands of people intent on causing death and destruction.
However, it is deeply depressing that we still have a dissident threat and that our jails are filled with misguided individuals like Barry Petticrew who are wasting their lives on a redundant cause.
