Three men convicted of trying to kill police officers with a mortar bomb in County Armagh two years ago have been sent to jail for fifteen years in the North.

The live mortar, complete with launching tube, was found near Lurgan, and just needed a detonating cable before firing.

Damien McKenna, aged 26, Gary Toman, aged 24, and Sean McConville, aged 23, all from Lurgan all pleaded guilty in court today.

They had been under military surveillance for up to six months and, when seen behaving suspiciously, they were arrested.

A horizontally-fired mortar bomb was found nearby.

Sentencing them, Mr Justice Seamus Treacy pleaded with those seduced by the false glamour of terrorism not to be blinded to its horrific consequences.

As they were led to the cells, the packed public gallery erupted into cheers and applause with an Irish flag held aloft.