Real IRA tried to invent bomb, court told

The Real IRA tried to invent a new explosive device using propane gas and petrol and tested it at a remote area on Mount Leinster in Co Carlow, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Detective Superintendent Diarmuid O’ Sullivan, of the Special Detective Unit, said: "They had modified a gas cylinder and endeavoured to put propane gas and petrol into it."

He said that the Real IRA in Dublin and Carlow were involved in extorting money from drug dealers to finance the organisation’s activities.

He said that Carlow man Patrick Dermody was intercepted by gardaí as he went on a mission to shoot an individual from whom the Real IRA leader in Carlow had demanded €10,000.

The money had not been paid and Dermody had failed to carry out the shooting on a previous occasion which had angered the Real IRA leader.

Dermody had shown gardaí the location on Mount Leinster where the Real IRA had tried to get the new device to explode.

Dermody was jailed for seven years today for offences connected with the Real IRA activities in Co Carlow.

Dermody (aged 20), of New Road, Leighlinbridge admitted the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at Mount Leinster, Co Carlow between October 1 and October 8 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to having a double barrelled shotgun and eight shotgun cartridges with intent to endanger life at Garrydundon, Carlow, Co Carlow on October 25 last year.

He was convicted last week of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on October 26 last year.

Det. Supt O’ Sullivan said 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.

Gardaí 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.

Gardaí 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 showed gardaí locations where the explosive device was being tested.

Det. Supt o’ Sullivan said that Dermody told gardaÍ that he had been sworn in to the Real IRA at an apartment in Leighlinbridge two weeks before his arrest by members of the Real IRA from Dublin and Carlow.

He said that Dermody had sworn an oath and had been given a copy of the Green Book, the rules and regulations of the organisation.

The court sentenced Dermody to seven years for possession of the shotgun and ammunition, five years for possession of explosives and four years for IRA membership and ordered the sentences to run concurrently.