A Toronto-area man who plotted to bomb RCMP headquarters and Parliament will have to serve another two years in jail, a court ruled Friday.
Ali Dirie, a member of the so-called Toronto 18 terror group, was handed the equivalent of a seven-year sentence for his part in the 2006 plot.
But because the 26-year-old has already served time behind bars, he will only serve another two years before being released.
"His moral culpability is high," said Ontario Superior Court Justice Bruce Durno in handing down the sentence.
Durno noted that because Dirie worked with the group over a relatively lengthy period, "his degree of responsibility is also high because of the duration of his involvement."
During sentencing arguments, lawyers argued over the fact that Dirie had served time in isolation before his trial.
But the judge rejected an appeal to give Dirie three to one pre-trial credit for time he served in isolation. The judge said that Dirie was placed in solitary confinement because of his own actions while in custody.
"It was his own misconduct that contributed in part to his placement in segregation," said the judge, who noted that Dirie was also "an unlikely candidate for parole."
Dirie, the fourth member of the group to be convicted, pleaded guilty to charges that he helped the group get guns and travel documents.
His defence lawyer said his client was very sorry about the offence, adding that much of his motivation stemmed from anger over Canada's involvement in Afghanistan.
But now, Dirie knows that violence isn't the answer.
"He realized that the means didn't advance his belief but in fact, if anything, retarded it," Nuttall said outside court.
"He profoundly regrets the means."
