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| Royal Marine Maxwell pleads guilty to terror charge | Royal Marine Maxwell pleads guilty to terror charge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Royal Marine from Northern Ireland has pleaded guilty to offences related to dissident republican terrorism, including bomb-making and storing stolen military weapons. | A Royal Marine from Northern Ireland has pleaded guilty to offences related to dissident republican terrorism, including bomb-making and storing stolen military weapons. |
| Ciarán Maxwell, 31, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey in London. | Ciarán Maxwell, 31, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey in London. |
| He was arrested in Somerset last August after the the discovery of two dissident republican arms dumps near Larne, County Antrim. | He was arrested in Somerset last August after the the discovery of two dissident republican arms dumps near Larne, County Antrim. |
| He also pleaded guilty to drugs and fraud charges. | He also pleaded guilty to drugs and fraud charges. |
| Maxwell, who appeared via videolink from Woodhill Prison near Milton Keynes, admitted assisting another to commit acts of terrorism between 2011 and 2016. | |
| Sentencing has been postponed to a later date. | Sentencing has been postponed to a later date. |
| The marine, who is originally from Larne, County Antrim, was based with 40 Commando in Somerset. | The marine, who is originally from Larne, County Antrim, was based with 40 Commando in Somerset. |
| Ciarán Maxwell was brought up in Larne's Seacourt estate - he began the rigorous training to become a Royal Marine in 2010. | |
| His Facebook page featured pictures of exercises in Britain and abroad. | |
| But the charge suggests he was involved in terrorism from 2011, before he'd even finished that training. | |
| The 31-year-old has a partner and child. What influenced him to turn terrorist may never be known but his case could prompt a review of vetting procedures. | |
| It also raises questions over how he was able to take anti-personnel mines from his base in Somerset to Northern Ireland. | |
| It is understood Ciarán Maxwell has cooperated with police since his arrest and this along with his guilty plea will be taken into account when it comes to sentencing. | |
| The defendant had no previous criminal record but he had made the headlines before. | |
| In 2002 republican paper An Phoblacht reported that he had been the subject of an unprovoked attack by a group of loyalists near his home in Larne. | |
| Last March, police said bomb-making parts had been found in barrels hidden in a wooded area in Carnfunnock County Park in County Antrim. | |
| Two months later another "terrorist hide" was found in Capanagh Forest, also near Larne. | Two months later another "terrorist hide" was found in Capanagh Forest, also near Larne. |
| Police described it as one of the most significant arms finds in recent years. | Police described it as one of the most significant arms finds in recent years. |
| Of particular concern to security chiefs was the discovery of military grade anti-personnel mines. | Of particular concern to security chiefs was the discovery of military grade anti-personnel mines. |
| Their serial numbers revealed they had been taken from the Royal Marines base in Somerset where Ciarán Maxwell was based. | |
| Court papers revealed that 12 hides were discovered in total. | |
| Ciarán Maxwell: Full list of charges | Ciarán Maxwell: Full list of charges |