The discovery of a large dissident republican car bomb in County Louth, which was the result of a successful Garda operation, undoubtedly saved lives and prevented widespread destruction in Northern Ireland, where the bomb was destined.
By any standards, the device found at Kilcurry Church in May last year was a substantial one.
It involved an adapted beer keg, 50 kg of home made explosives and an improvised steel booster tube as well as a timer and power unit. In the booster tube was found PETN, one of the most powerful explosives known, and RDX which is mixed with it to form Semtex.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told the device had a detonation range of more than 900 feet and had the capacity to cause significant damage as well as injury and loss of life to anyone in the immediate vicinity.
It is frightening to think of the appalling consequences if this elaborate car bomb had gone off in a town centre or densely populated area.
It is also chilling that so many years after the Omagh bomb, dissident republicans are still plotting destruction on a massive scale.
Clearly, anyone involved in this evil conspiracy knew that building or transporting this bomb was a very serious offence.
Gareth Mulley (45) from Aisling Park in Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to possessing an explosive substance. However, as Mr Justice Butler pointed out, he was effectively caught red handed.
Despite Mulley's clear record, the judge said the minimum sentence he could impose was ten years in jail.
This is a lengthy term and sends out a firm message that those engaged in such violent activity can expect to spent a very long time in prison.
