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Two men have been imprisoned following their installation of a wildlife camera in the driveway of a retired police officer’s home, with the court hearing that the device was part of a plan to gather intelligence that could facilitate an attack on his life. Damian Duffy, aged 56, from Dungannon, and Shea Reynolds, 31, from Lurgan, were previously found guilty of six joint terrorism-related offences. Duffy received a sentence of 12 and a half years in prison, while Reynolds was given 11 and a half years, each with an additional five-year extension period. The judge overseeing the case described both individuals as “dangerous.”
Presiding at Belfast Crown Court in a non-jury trial, Mrs Justice Patricia Smyth found Duffy and Reynolds guilty on multiple counts, including preparing terrorist acts, possessing articles for terrorism, and attempting to collect or create records likely to aid terrorist activities. These offences took place between 3 and 21 September 2016. Although the defendants claimed the camera’s purpose was simply to collect information, the judge stated that, taken as a whole, their actions went much further. She emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting the “specific targeting” of a former police officer and describing it as “a very grave matter,” further highlighting that the plan was well-researched and aimed at facilitating an attack on the retired officer’s life. The plot was only prevented due to police intervention.
The court also heard that prior to placing the camera at the retired officer’s house, Duffy and Reynolds had positioned a similar device on Annaghone Road in Coalisland. Evidence suggested that others might have been involved or connected to their activities, with Mrs Justice Smyth acknowledging that the two men were not acting alone, despite neither facing charges relating to membership of any organization. In delivering the sentences, the judge took into account Duffy’s prior convictions related to terrorism. She also noted that neither man accepted responsibility for their offences, showing “no remorse.” It was also mentioned that Reynolds had already served a significant period on remand before sentencing.
Detective Superintendent Moutray of the PSNI Terrorism Investigation Unit provided further details after the sentencing. He explained that the pair had been under surveillance as suspected members or associates of the New IRA. On 4 September 2016, they placed a wildlife camera in the Annaghone Road area, returning a few days later to remove it. Then, on 14 September, they installed the device at the driveway of the retired officer’s home. Police removed the camera from the property, examined it, and replaced it with a dummy camera. Duffy and Reynolds later came back to retrieve the camera, not realizing it had been swapped. Forensic examination linked images on the device to both men and connected Reynolds directly. Duffy’s criminal history includes previous terrorism-related convictions dating back to 1993, involving offences carried out on behalf of the IRA
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