A man (22) with 140 previous convictions has been sentenced to eight years after being stopped at a garda checkpoint in Dublin with a petrol bomb.

The court heard that after being taken into custody Karl Harford received a text asking 'is it done yet mate?'.

Harford of Dolphin House in Rialto pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an explosive device at Park West Avenue in Ballyfermot on November 5th, 2010.

Gardaí found a plastic bag in his car containing an Uncle Ben's jar filled with petrol and with a wick coming out of the top.

Later tests revealed that it was a functioning bomb.

Judge Margaret Heneghan imposed an eight year term with the final two years suspended.