A West Belfast man sentenced to 11 years in prison last week for his role in a botched armed robbery was part of a dissident republican plot to blow up a city centre building.

Paul Donnelly, from Colinview Street, was shot by police as he ran along Upper Queen Street in November 2002 after leaving a bomb outside the motor tax office.

The 29-year-old was arrested by undercover cops and later sentenced to five years in jail for possession of explosives. 

Last Tuesday Donnelly was jailed for a further 11 years for his role in the botched armed robbery of a Securicor van on the Falls Road in March 2007. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a car from a Glengormley showroom that was used as the robbers’ getaway vehicle.

Unlike his first stint behind bars, Donnelly is not serving his latest sentence on the republican wing.

He is being held among the ordinary prison population at Maghaberry after falling out with his former dissident pals.

“Even while he was on remand awaiting sentencing Donnelly was being held with the regular prisoners,” said a prison source.

“He’s fallen out with the dissidents, and hasn’t even bothered applying to go onto their wing.

“Even while he was on remand awaiting sentencing Donnelly was being held with the regular prisoners.”