Dublin man, 44, in court charged with explosive substance possession after car stopped in Monaghan with alleged bomb

A DUBLIN man has been charged with possession of an explosive substance after an alleged bomb was found in a car in Monaghan. 

The car was stopped while travelling on the N2 south of Carrickmacross on Wednesday.

Simon O’Donovan, 44, with an address at Sperrin Road in Dublin 12, appeared before a late-night sitting of the Special Criminal Court this evening.

He is charged that on July 22 at St Laurence’s Road, Chapelizod, in Dublin, he did knowingly have in his possession an explosive substance, to wit – an improvised device under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he had not got it in his possession for a lawful object.

This offence is contrary to section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 as amended by section 15(4) of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998.

Detective Sergeant Shane Noone of the Special Detective Unit told State Solicitor Liam Mulholland that he arrested Mr O’Donovan at 5.06pm for the possession of explosives and informed him he would be charged with this offence.

The Det Sgt said he cautioned him and that Mr O’Donovan replied: “I don’t understand.”

When he explained it again to Mr O’Donovan, the accused said he understood.

Det Sgt Noone informed the accused that he was to be brought before the next sitting of the Special Criminal Court to be charged with possession of explosives.

The Det Sgt said he met Mr O’Donovan in the precincts of the Special Criminal Court this evening, where he handed him a copy of the original charge sheet which was explained to him.

Det Sgt Noone said he explained the charge in ordinary language to the accused and cautioned him, to which he made no reply.

Earlier, defence solicitor Darragh Mackin from Belfast-based firm Phoenix Law said that Mr O’Donovan had asked him to act for him but he could not accept instructions due to the ongoing strike by criminal legal aid lawyers.

The case was adjourned to Monday but Mr O’Donovan is currently applying for bail before High Court judge Mr Justice Patrick McGrath.

The man’s arrest follows a 25-year-old woman being charged in relation to the same incident yesterday evening.

Law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, with an address at Abbeylands Park in Clane, Co Kildare, was charged with possession of explosives at a special sitting of Trim District Court.

She was remanded in custody with consent to bail to Monaghan District Court on Monday.