Twin brothers who manufactured bomb components for a group commonly known as the "Real IRA" pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court yesterday to unlawful possession of explosive substances.
Kenneth Patterson (31), a former Irish soldier, and Alan Patterson, both of Griffith Parade, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of explosive substances in Dublin and at or near MacEntee Avenue, Dundalk, on June 9th this year. Alan Patterson pleaded guilty to additional charges of unlawful possession of three-quarters of a kilo of Semtex explosive, an air pistol and a quantity of ammunition at Marmion Court, Dublin, on the same date.
The court heard that the brothers had been running "workshops for the development" of bomb components on behalf of the "Real IRA". These consisted of home-made timing units for bombs and improvised incendiary devices, Det Sgt Brendan McArdle, a ballistics expert, told the court. The detective said the timing units may have been used for "demonstration or training purposes". When asked by Mr Justice Johnson, presiding, to explain the significance of the weight of the Semtex, the detective replied that it was sufficient either for two under-car booby trap bombs or as a booster for a larger bomb.
Kenneth and Alan Patterson, and a third person not before the court, were arrested during a Garda surveillance operation against the "Real IRA", and in particular into its bomb-making capacity, the court was told. The three were arrested as they left Dundalk railway station by car on June 9th, the two accused having arrived on a train from Dublin and met by the third party. Det Supt Peter Maguire, of the Special Detective Unit, said he received "confidential information that the three parties concerned were in the process of moving explosives".
The court heard that Kenneth Patterson, a separated father of three, served as an Army private from 1990 until August 2000. He had a "favourable" Army record. At the time of his arrest he worked in a plastics mouldings plant. Alan Patterson, a separated father of two, was working as a warehouseman in Dublin when he was arrested.
The court remanded the two in custody for sentencing on Tuesday.