Dissident marine ‘is now state witness’

Court told man ‘linked’ to terror plot

A FORMER Royal Marine jailed for stockpiling weapons has turned “assisting offender” claiming an old school acquaintance was involved in the dissident terror plot, the High Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutors said Ciaran Maxwell has alleged Niall Lehd helped source and construct explosives recovered from dumps around their home town of Larne, Co Antrim.

Maxwell, 32, is serving 18 years after admitting a series of terror-related offences. His evidence is now being relied on in the case against 29-year-old

Lehd. Details emerged as Lehd, of Seahill Road in the town, was bailed on charges of preparing terrorist acts, possessing explosives with intent to endanger life, and having documents useful to terrorism.

The alleged offences relate to the discovery of arms dumps in 2016. Plastic barrels and buried in the ground contained mines, explosive projectiles, pipe bombs, handguns and ammunition, improvised detonators, timer power units, command wires and command wires. Police uniforms were also located, the court heard. A prosecutor said Maxwell has provided two statements under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act in which he claims Lehd aided in amassing the arsenal.

He alleges the pair went to the same school, lived in the same estate and met when he returned on leave from the Marines.

According to his account they also made component parts ordered online. A judge was told Lehd is allegedly linked to three separate pipe bombing incidents in Carnlough, Co Antrim, North Belfast and Armagh.

The prosecutor said: “Essentially the prosecution rely on Maxwell as an assisting offender.” Seamus Lannon, defending, disputed the assertion that the two men went to school together.

With no DNA connecting Lehd to the hides, the barrister suggested Maxwell had pointed the finger at just his client in an attempt to get a reduced sentence.

He said: “We say Ciaran Maxwell’s credibility is shot and the Crown case is fundamentally weak.”

Granting bail, Mr Justice Mcalinden stressed police must be allowed to examine computers or internet-enabled devices at Lehd’s home.

We say Maxwell’s credibility is shot and the Crown case is weak SEAMUS LANNON HIGH COURT YESTERDAY

Ciaran Maxwell is serving 18 years Timers were found in buried hide ARSENAL CONVICTED

EVIDENCE Balaclava