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.