This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/25/royal-marine-held-on-terror-charges-is-from-highly-respected-family

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Royal Marine held on terror charges is from 'highly respected' family Royal Marine held on terror charges is from 'highly respected' family
(about 3 hours later)
The Royal Marine arrested over republican dissident-related terrorism charges has served in the British army for at least six years and belongs to a respected Catholic family in the Ulster loyalist-dominated town of Larne.The Royal Marine arrested over republican dissident-related terrorism charges has served in the British army for at least six years and belongs to a respected Catholic family in the Ulster loyalist-dominated town of Larne.
A close friend of Ciaran Maxwell’s family told the Guardian that he was “shocked and shaken” by the news that the 30-year-old soldier was in detention in relation to the discovery of terrorist arsenals found in Northern Ireland earlier this year. A close friend of Ciaran Maxwell’s family told the Guardian he was “shocked and shaken” by the news that the 30-year-old soldier was in detention in relation to the discovery of a terrorist arsenal in Northern Ireland earlier this year.
The family friend, who has asked not be named, described Maxwell as a “straightforward” young man “with his head screwed on”.The family friend, who has asked not be named, described Maxwell as a “straightforward” young man “with his head screwed on”.
He revealed that the Royal Marine has one young son and is in a long-term relationship. He revealed that the Royal Marine, who faces a second night in custody as he is questioned by detectives, has one young son and is in a long-term relationship.
The soldier has served a tour of duty in Afghanistan, the family friend said. He attended the local Catholic secondary school in Larne, St Comhghall’s, and won trophies and medals there in track and field events. The soldier has served a tour of duty in Afghanistan, the family friend said. He attended the local Catholic secondary school in Larne, St Comgall’s, and won trophies and medals there in track and field events.
It has emerged that, when he was 16, Maxwell was the victim of a savage beating in his home town. He sustained a fractured skull and suffered multiple other injuries when a gang of loyalists attacked him with iron bars and golf clubs.
During his recovery, he recounted the incident to republican newspaper An Phoblacht in an article that was accompanied by a picture showing the extent of his injuries.
On a possible alleged link to dissident republican terror groups, the family friend said: “He seemed to be settled with his girlfriend and a new child so this is a complete bolt from the blue. All the family are highly respected in the town and seen as moderate.”On a possible alleged link to dissident republican terror groups, the family friend said: “He seemed to be settled with his girlfriend and a new child so this is a complete bolt from the blue. All the family are highly respected in the town and seen as moderate.”
He explained how many Catholics in Larne had served in the British armed forces.He explained how many Catholics in Larne had served in the British armed forces.
“Larne is not like parts of Belfast or some of the divided towns in Northern Ireland like Portadown. There are no Catholic enclaves in Larne, which is Protestant and loyalist dominated. Catholics over the years had to integrate and some through generations served in the British military. There have been chairmen and senior officials in the local British Legion for instance from the Catholic community here.“Larne is not like parts of Belfast or some of the divided towns in Northern Ireland like Portadown. There are no Catholic enclaves in Larne, which is Protestant and loyalist dominated. Catholics over the years had to integrate and some through generations served in the British military. There have been chairmen and senior officials in the local British Legion for instance from the Catholic community here.
“Ciaran’s mother is a highly regarded member of the Larne community, as are her other sons. So you can imagine how shocked and shaken those that know them are when they heard about Ciaran’s arrest,” he said.“Ciaran’s mother is a highly regarded member of the Larne community, as are her other sons. So you can imagine how shocked and shaken those that know them are when they heard about Ciaran’s arrest,” he said.
The family friend added: “There are a few young bucks in the Catholic community who boast that they are republican dissidents but you wouldn’t send them out to the shop for a newspaper because they would buy the wrong one. It’s a bit different up and down the Antrim coast, where there are pockets of more serious people who support the dissident cause. If this connection is true with Ciaran – and I sincerely hope it isn’t – then you are talking about a committed soldier who knows what he is doing.” The family friend added: “There are a few young bucks in the Catholic community who boast that they are republican dissidents, but you wouldn’t send them out to the shop for a newspaper because they would buy the wrong one. It’s a bit different up and down the Antrim coast, where there are pockets of more serious people who support the dissident cause. If this connection is true with Ciaran – and I sincerely hope it isn’t – then you are talking about a committed soldier who knows what he is doing.”
On his Facebook page Ciaran Maxwell makes no obvious reference to his career in the British military, which is standard personal security procedure for soldiers and police officers either serving or who come from Northern Ireland, given the continuing threat to their lives from republican dissident terror groups. However, there are some military videos which appear to have been taken from a phone. On his Facebook page, Ciaran Maxwell makes no obvious reference to his career in the British military, which is standard personal security procedure for soldiers and police officers either serving or who come from Northern Ireland, given the continuing threat to their lives from republican dissident terror groups. However, there are some military videos that appear to have been taken from a phone.
Over the past decade or more the Real IRA, New IRA and Continuity IRA – the three main factions opposed to peace and power sharing in Northern Ireland – have killed two soldiers, two police officers and two members of the local prison service. Over the past decade or more, the Real IRA, New IRA and Continuity IRA – the three main factions opposed to peace and power sharing in Northern Ireland – have killed two soldiers, two police officers and two members of the local prison service.
Meanwhile, local security sources in Belfast have told the Guardian that the discovery of two military Claymore anti-personnel mines at a New IRA arms dump in a forest near Larne in May was one link in the chain leading to the arrest of the soldier in Somerset on Wednesday.Meanwhile, local security sources in Belfast have told the Guardian that the discovery of two military Claymore anti-personnel mines at a New IRA arms dump in a forest near Larne in May was one link in the chain leading to the arrest of the soldier in Somerset on Wednesday.
The mines were part of a large arsenal of homemade bombs, explosives, components for other bombs and ammunition discovered in Capanagh forest in Co Antrim in May. The Police Service of Northern Ireland described that find as one of the most significant terrorist arms hauls in recent years.The mines were part of a large arsenal of homemade bombs, explosives, components for other bombs and ammunition discovered in Capanagh forest in Co Antrim in May. The Police Service of Northern Ireland described that find as one of the most significant terrorist arms hauls in recent years.
Security sources in Belfast said the investigation that led to Wednesday’s arrest of the Royal Marine was in part due to the tracing of the two Claymore anti-personnel mines to a specific military base from which they were stolen.Security sources in Belfast said the investigation that led to Wednesday’s arrest of the Royal Marine was in part due to the tracing of the two Claymore anti-personnel mines to a specific military base from which they were stolen.
“Everyone was involved in this operation including the Security Service’s listening station at GCHQ in Cheltenham to MI5 regional headquarters based in Northern Ireland, the PSNI and the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command. The mines were the key to tracking down where they came from and creating a trail of suspects,” they said. “Everyone was involved in this operation, including the Security Service’s listening station at GCHQ in Cheltenham to MI5 regional headquarters based in Northern Ireland, the PSNI and the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command. The mines were the key to tracking down where they came from and creating a trail of suspects,” they said.
Just before the discovery of the weapons in Capanagh forest park, which also included armour-piercing rockets, the then home secretary, Theresa May, said the threat from the New IRA and other hardline republican dissident groups of a bombing campaign in England was at its highest for many years.Just before the discovery of the weapons in Capanagh forest park, which also included armour-piercing rockets, the then home secretary, Theresa May, said the threat from the New IRA and other hardline republican dissident groups of a bombing campaign in England was at its highest for many years.
On Thursday, officers from the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command and local uniformed officers were continuing to carry out searches at a property in Exminster. DCI Antony Hart, of Devon and Cornwall police, said: “Local officers will be in the Exminster area and will be speaking to residents to help offer reassurance.
“Searches are expected to continue throughout the weekend at the property in question. Searches are also continuing at the nearby wooded area.
“Road closures will be in place on some of the minor roads surrounding the wooded area and are also expected to remain in place throughout the weekend,” he added. “We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause and thank the public for their patience.”