Royal Marine was Irish sleeper agent
Traitor had cache of mines, bombs and bullets
A ROYAL Marine admitted being a dissident Republican ‘sleeper agent’ yesterday after stashing deadly weapons for a campaign of terror.
Ciaran Maxwell, 31, appeared to be a loyal serviceman during a tour of Afghanistan and at the base for 40 Commando in Taunton, Somerset.
But the Catholic father-of-one, who grew up in Larne, County Antrim, was secretly a Republican sympathiser who hid arms caches containing mines, explosives and bomb-making equipment.
Police suspect the traitor – who also obtained police uniforms – was assisting a splinter group of extremists that was plotting attacks on British targets. He was said to have drawn up lists of potential targets, none of which have been disclosed, for others to carry out attacks.
Yesterday at the Old Bailey, Maxwell unexpectedly pleaded guilty to planning a terrorist attack. His case is thought to be the first known attempt by a Republican terrorist group to infiltrate the British armed forces since the Troubles.
It comes at an extremely sensitive time for the peace process in Northern Ireland after the collapse of the power-sharing executive last month.
A counter-terrorism operation began last March after a walker discovered two barrels partially buried in Carnfunnock Country Park, 25 miles north of Belfast. Police discovered a hide containing electrical components, explosive powder, detonators, fuses and timers for improvised bombs.
Two months later, officers were alerted to three barrels in a forest in neighbouring Larne packed full of explosives and battlefield weapons. They contained a handgun, ammunition and magazines, along with five pipe bombs, including one that was ready to use. There were also Claymore anti-personnel mines and other materials, including a pressure cooker, which could be used to make a bomb.
Uniforms for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were also found, along with an adapted PSNI pass card.
Traces of DNA led to Maxwell, who lived with his fiancee Kerry O’Callaghan, 29, and young son in Exminster, Devon, and he was arrested in August. He had signed up to the Royal Marines in 2011.
Following his arrest, police searched a forest – Powderham New Plantation – a short distance from his home and found 12 more hides containing even more bomb components similar to those found in Northern Ireland.
There were also handwritten and digital notes on the construction of the hides in Northern Ireland as well as how to manufacture explosives. Police discovered Maxwell had purchased some of the bomb components online, from sites including eBay and Amazon.
The Royal Marine was in the news as a 16-year-old when he was the victim of an apparent sectarian beating in Larne that left him with a fractured skull.
Afterwards he spoke about the incident in the Republican newspaper An Phoblacht as his parents said police did not take attacks on Catholics seriously.
Yesterday, Maxwell also pleaded guilty to drugs and fraud charges.
He admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply after he was found to be growing the drug using specialist equipment under camouflage tents.
He also admitted possession of articles for use in connection with fraud after amassing images of identity documents and bank cards on his laptop. He was thought to have been preparing to target his fellow troops.
Maxwell admitted his guilt while appearing via video link from Belmarsh top security prison. Dressed in a black T-shirt and grey, fleeced top with close-cropped hair, he spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas.
Mr Justice Sweeney adjourned sentence to a date to be fixed.
Speaking after the hearing, Commander Dean Haydon of Scotland Yard’s counter terrorism command, described the conviction as a great result.
‘This investigation protected public safety by removing a large quantity of dangerous material from circulation,’ he said.
‘Skull fractured in a beating’