Eugene McNulty (42), of Cahan Court in Strabane, purchased some of the raw materials needed to make the devices.

A prosecution lawyer told Belfast Crown Court that McNulty had been stopped coming out of a flat where the devices were uncovered in April 2004.

He added that the police did not suspect him of being involved in any criminal activity since then.

Defence QC Terrence McDonald said given probation reports and the prosecution and police view, McNulty "does not appear to be a risk to the public or any section of it".

He added that, given the state of the evidence, and but for McNulty's guilty plea to aiding and abetting, "the prosecution in this case were not on a home run".

Jailing him, Judge Corinne Philpott said McNulty had “willingly involved” himself in criminal activity at that time. However, she said that, given the delay in dealing with his case, the court could say he had “not involved yourself in any other offending.”

The judge also placed McNulty on probation for a further 18 months after his release.