A Dublin man who made hoax bomb calls which shut down a motorway, disrupted air traffic control and stopped 4,000 Intel staff going to work has been asked to carry out 200 hours community service.
21-year-old Colin Hammond had been drinking and taking tablets with a friend who paid him €30 to make the calls because he did not want to go to work at Intel in Leixlip the following morning.
Mr Hammond of Bath Road, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a false report, giving rise to apprehension for the safety of persons or property at Bath Road on January 13, 2015.
He made two 999 calls, claiming to be from Islamic State and saying there were bombs at Intel which would go off in 12 hours.
Garda Eamonn McFadden told the court that 300 employees were evacuated from Intel and a further 3,700 staff were prevented from entering the site.
The M4 motorway was closed and there was also disruption to air traffic control in the location before authorities realised it was a hoax.
Judge Martin Nolan ordered Hammond to complete 200 hours of community service within 12 months, in lieu of two years in jail.
