MARINE MADE BOMBS DEPLOYED IN ULSTER

31yr-old facing jail sentence over role in planned Continuity IRA attacks on police

A ROYAL Marine built explosives for republican paramilitaries planning to attack police stations and kill officers, a court heard yesterday.

Ciaran Maxwell stashed antipersonnel mines, mortars, ammunition and 14 pipe bombs – four of which were deployed – in purpose-built hides in Northern Ireland and England.

Chemicals and materials to make more bombs as well as an adapted PSNI pass card, uniform and a police stabproof vest were found in the barrels and buckets buried in the ground.

The Old Bailey was told Maxwell compiled a library of terrorist documents and bomb-making guides – such as the IRA Green Book – and researched targets, including police stations, military barracks and Government buildings. The serviceman, of Exminster in Devon, claimed after he was arrested on August 24 last year he had “got in over his head” and had no intention of committing an act of terrorism or killing anyone.

But prosecutor Richard Whittam QC said: “Mr Maxwell repeatedly accepted the devices would be used by others for terrorist purposes.

“For example, he agreed with the statement the items were made for the Continuity IRA with the intention of attacking police and police stations.”

The court heard one plan involved planting hoax devices along with secondary live bombs to “kill police officers”.

The 31-year-old, who is originally from Larne in Co Antrim, faces years behind bars when he is sentenced tomorrow. He pleaded guilty in February to preparation of terrorist acts between January 2011 and August last year, possessing images of bank cards for fraud and having cannabis with intent to supply.

He appeared in court yesterday by video-link from Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes where he sat at a desk with a laptop making notes.

He was a serving Royal Marine with 40 Commando, based at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, at the time of the offences and was deployed in the US, Cyprus and the UK – but not Northern Ireland – after enlisting in 2010.

Mr Whittam said: “The number of hides in this case, their geographical dispersal, their attribution to a single person constructing and managing them and the amount of material stored within them would be highly unusual.

“It is our case some of the items inevitably must have been taken from the UK to Northern Ireland by this defendant.

“It may be that, when travelling between England and the UK, bearing in mind the identity cards he would have had and his position his passage would have been easier than others to take items with him.”

The sentencing hearing, scheduled for three days, continues today.

OLD BAILEY YESTERDAY

LETHAL HAUL Barrel containing weapons was found near Larne DEADLY Pipe bombs were stashed in woodland TERROR LINKS Ciaran Maxwell admitted making 14 pipe bombs