Crossword Genius

Severe disturbances following young Patrick with the loyalists (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patriots

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the loyalists' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'severe disturbances following young patrick' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'disturbances' could be 'riots' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'riots' is located in the answer.
'patrick' could be 'pat' (common short form of the name) and 'pat' is present in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for patriots that I've seen before include "They act from love of fatherland" , "who may wave the flag?" , "Lovers of their country" , "They love and defend their country" , "loyalists" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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