Real IRA tested explosives to extort money, court hears

The Real IRA tested an explosive device at Mount Leinster in Co Carlow for use in extorting money from drug dealers, the Special Criminal Court was told today.

The court heard that two Real IRA active service units in Dublin and Carlow were involved in the extortion of money from drug dealers to raise funds for the organisation and were prepared to use guns and explosives for this.

The court was told that Co Carlow man Patrick Dermody showed gardaí an area on Mount Leinster where an improvised explosive device made from a gas cylinder was being tested. He also showed them the farmhouse where the device had been manufactured and a graveyard in Leighlinbridge where other components were stored.

Dermody (aged 20), of New Road, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow denied IRA membership on October 26 last year.

Prosecuting counsel Mr Damien Cogan BL said that gardaí from the Carlow/Kildare division, the Special Detective Unit and the Crime and Security branch were involved in the investigation of the two Real IRA active service units.

They had information that Dermody would be driving a stolen motorbike in the Carlow area and when they tried to stop him he drove off and later crashed the bike. Gardai recovered a backpack from the scene of the bike crash which contained a sawn-off shotgun and eight shotgun cartridges.

Dermody was arrested the next day and during interviews with gardaí he admitted membership of an illegal organisation and offered to show the gardai locations where the explosive device was being tested.

Dermody also told gardaí that he was going to shoot somebody and the Real IRA would be paid €10,000 for doing the job.

Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O’ Sullivan, Special Detective Unit, said that Dermody showed them a location on Mount Leinster where they found a modified gas cylinder which was later dealt with by the Army EOD unit. He also brought gardaí to an area half a mile away where plastic bottles which had been filled with petrol had been discarded.

The Detective Supt said that Dermody then brought gardaí to the Protestant graveyard at Leighlinbridge where he had hidden components for the device.

Chief Superintendent Michael Byrnes, Naas, told the court that he believed Dermody was a member of the IRA on October 26 last year.

The court has reserved judgment in the case.