PSNI bomb attack: Gavin Coyle jailed for four years for attempted murder

The attack on the off-duty officer happened near Castlederg in May 2008

A man has been jailed for at least four years on charges linked to the attempted murder of a Catholic police officer in County Tyrone in 2008.

Gavin Coyle, 46, from Mullaghmore Drive, Omagh, will serve two years of a six-year sentence on licence.

He was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Friday for IRA membership and providing a car, knowing it would be used for the purposes of terrorism.

The officer was off-duty when a bomb exploded under his car near Castlederg.

It happened in the village of Spamount on 12 May 2008, as he was driving to work.

He suffered serious leg injuries and was rescued by a member of the public, who dragged him from the wreckage shortly before it burst into flames.

Gavin Coyle on his way to an earlier hearing.

The injured officer suffered "permanent disfiguring injuries" after the Real IRA attack, the court was told.

The victim has struggled to come to terms with the physical and mental repercussions of the bombing and has suffered mental ill health.

The police officer had his "career mapped out" and wanted to join a Police Service of Northern Ireland specialised unit, but that has not been possible as a result of the attack.

He had just completed probation at the time of the bombing.

The judge said he had also relocated away from friends and family.

"Omagh was his home, but he no longer feels safe there," she said.

The court was told Coyle had previous convictions for weapons offences.

The judge said his offending was "indicative of a person committed to acts of terrorism".

Attacker and victim knew each other

The judge told the court that Coyle and the police officer knew each other in childhood, attended the same school, but were not friends.

Speaking outside court, Det Insp Hazel Miller said: "No one should ever have to experience such a cruel ordeal, the lasting impact of which isn't just felt by the victim, but by family and loved ones too."

Det Insp Hazel Miller condemned the attack

She described the attack as cowardly, calculated and cold-blooded and said it was "carried out with one aim: to take the life of a police officer".

"Our officers are committed to keeping people safe.  Their dedication, and indeed the actions of those members of the public who ran to help, are in stark contrast to those intent on harming and killing," Det Insp Miller said.

"Today, Coyle has been held accountable for his role in this nightmarish attack [and] we will continue to robustly investigate and disrupt the criminal and terrorist activities of those who bring violence to our doorsteps." 

'Car burst into flames'

A prosecuting barrister told an earlier hearing that in the early hours of 12 May 2008, Coyle's Audi was used in the deployment of a bomb which was planted under the car of the police constable serving in Enniskillen.

At about 21:00 BST the following evening, the officer got into his Ford Focus, which had been parked in the driveway of his home in Spamount.

He was on his way to a night shift and as he drove along the Drumnabey Road the bomb, which had been placed directly under the driver's seat, exploded.

The officer managed to bring his car to a halt and get out of the vehicle.

He collapsed on the side of the road as the car burst into flames.