The most significant car bomb found in the Republic of Ireland in a decade has been intercepted by police, who believe it was being moved with the intention of using it in the North. Described by Gardaí sources as ‘advanced’ and ‘highly sophisticated’, the bomb was seized in transit near the Irish border in an operation targeting dissident republicans.
The intelligence-led swoop saw members of the Garda’s Special Detective Unit stop the vehicle travelling on the N2 south of Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, on Wednesday afternoon. Gardaí then requested the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team. Upon completing an examination of the vehicle, the device was found and is understood to have contained suspected military-grade explosives. It could potentially have caused ‘significant damage’, but further analysis is required to understand the full extent of such.
Arrests and custody
The vehicle was driven by a woman in her 20s, who was arrested at the scene under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. She remains in Garda custody as of Friday. Meanwhile, a second suspect, a man in his 40s, is being held at a Garda station in Dublin while follow-up searches are carried out.
Garda Commissioner’s statement
Confirming details of the operation, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly spoke to the press at a Garda graduation event in Co. Tipperary today. ‘To be clear, what we found was an extremely significant seizure,’ he said. ‘So this was an explosive device.’ Commissioner Kelly added: ‘Any seizure of this nature is really concerning. However, we certainly know that there are a small minority of dissident republicans who did not agree with the Good Friday Agreement; they did not put weapons and explosives [out of use]. They didn’t, you know, go through with the proper process in relation to decommissioning. So that is something that we continue to deal with. There’s a small minority of these individuals; I would describe them as radicalised republicans, and this is a threat that we’re going to continue to face for some time in An Garda Síochána. We work very closely with our colleagues in PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) and the intelligence services in the UK to deal with this threat. But I want to commend the members of An Garda Síochána who are involved in this operation.’
Political reactions
Ireland’s Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan also described the seizure as ‘very worrying’, but said he feels ‘encouraged’ that the authorities were ‘able to apprehend the suspect’. He added that there is undoubtedly evidence of ‘an ongoing threat in respect of dissident republican activity’. ‘But I also know that there’s been great cooperation between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána, and I think I suppose the developments recently and the work of An Garda Síochána indicate the benefits of having that close cooperation between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána.’ Commending the Gardaí for their work in defusing the bomb, he noted that the incident ‘didn’t become a real threat to the public’.
In a further statement, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said police on both sides of the Irish border shared a ‘joint commitment’ in tackling the dissident republican terror threat. Welcoming the seizure and the arrests made, he stressed the dedication to ‘keeping communities safe’ as they support the ongoing investigation and liaise closely with An Garda Síochána.
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant commended the Garda for intercepting the device, too, explaining that their action was ‘quick’ and ‘decisive’. ‘Intercepting a dangerous device like this undoubtedly saved lives and kept communities safe on both sides of the border,’ he posted on social media. ‘Strong cross-border security cooperation remains as vital as ever.’
DUP leader Gavin Robinson described the development as ‘chilling’, questioning whether the Irish government needs to increase its focus on tackling dissident republicanism. ‘If terrorists are capable of assembling sophisticated explosive devices and moving them towards the border, then it is entirely legitimate to ask whether the threat is being fully recognised and whether sufficient resources and operational focus are being directed towards disrupting these organisations before they reach this stage,’ the east Belfast MP said.
