Beggs praises the collaboration between the PSNI, the Met, the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit and the intelligence agencies who gathered evidence leading to the guilty plea for dissident republican terrorism activity, by the rogue Royal Marine, Ciarán Maxwell from Larne.
Roy Beggs MLA said:
“I am glad that the successful policing operation against dissident republican activity, that involved significant arms finds, has concluded with a guilty plea from Ciaran Maxwell. I hope that he will be handed a sentence that is appropriate for his reckless actions which endangered the public in NI and in GB.
“There must be a strong message send out that anyone engaging in activity that poses a threat to life and to peace in Northern Ireland will not be tolerated. I pay tribute to the PSNI and to the other National policing and intelligent agencies that may have been involved in closing down and frustrating this dissident republican activity. I would hope that others in his criminal gang are now under surveillance.”
“Questions remain to be answered as to how such military grade weapons were smuggled from his base and transported from Somerset to Capanagh Forest and to Carnfunnock Country Park outside Larne. I would appeal to the public to be vigilant and to give all possible support to the PSNI in their continued work to keep all us safe.”
