A New Lodge mechanic with links to the Real IRA and jailed for trying to blow up the city's tax office six years ago, has been arrested by police and had his licence revoked.

Terence McCafferty, 39, was arrested at the airport on Monday after flying home from a holiday in Spain.

He had been released from prison just a few weeks ago having served six years of a 12 year jail sentence.

Mr McCafferty's legal representative Kevin Winters said at the time of going to press it is unclear what charges are being brought against his client.

"We will be meeting with my client this morning (Tuesday) and we were waiting to speak with the Prison Service and Secretary of State to find out why his licence has been revoked," he said.

The last person from the prisoners early reelease scheme to be arrested and returned to jail was loyalist paramilitary leader Johnny Adair.

In 2003 the then Secretary of State Paul Murphy revoked his licence on police advice saying he was satisfied that Adair was a danger to others.

This week an NIO spokesperson said, "On the basis of information available the Secretary of State is satisfied that Mr McCafferty is a danger to others and that he is likely to commit further offences."

Mr McCafferty from Dill House in the New Lodge and Paul Donnelly, 29, from Colinview Street were both handed down a jail sentence in July 2005 for the attempted bombing of the Belfast tax office.

At the time police said it was part of a campaign by dissident republicans to undermine the peace process.

The pair left a device, which was later defused, in Upper Queen Street in November 2002. 

The would-be bombers were being watched by police and army as the bomb was driven to the tax office.

During the court case it emerged that McCafferty was driving the stolen car containing the improvised incendiary device. Donnelly followed in another car, waiting to pick him up.
However, after the pair drove off, police intercepted them at the junction of Howard Street and Great Victoria Street and Donnelly was shot. Sending Mr McCafferty to jail for 12 years and ordering that Mr Donnelly complete two years' probation after his five-year term, Mr Justice Weir said the pair were lucky not to be facing more serious charges.

The Prison Service confirmed that Mr McCafferty was returned to Maghaberry Prison on Monday and was on a republican wing.