Law student further remanded on explosives charges

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman, who is charged with being in possession of explosives found in a car she was driving in July, was remanded on continuing bail when she appeared at Monaghan District Court last Monday, September 28.

Law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, with an address at Abbeylands Park, Clane, Co Kildare, sat in the body of the courtroom during the brief hearing, at which she was represented by solicitor Gavin Booth of Belfast-based Phoenix Law.

Ms Perrie Sullivan’s Hyundai was stopped on the N2 at Aclint, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, on Wednesday, July 22 last. During a search, gardaí found a bag on the rear seat containing Semtex and a detonator. The device was described as containing military-grade explosives, and gardaí previously told reporters that their interception was part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity.

At a special sitting of Trim District Court on Friday July 24, Ms Perrie Sullivan was granted bail despite Garda objections, but subject to a number of conditions, including the lodgement of a €15,000 cash independent surety and the surrender of her passport. She was also to sign each day at Naas Garda Station, observe a 9pm-7am curfew, remain contactable by mobile phone at all times, reside at an approved address and have no contact anyone connected to the political group ‘Saoradh’ or the so-called ‘New IRA’.

During the Trim hearing Mr Booth had stated that his client was asked to take the bag to Northern Ireland and unaware of what was inside it. She was living with her father in Kildare and studying for a law degree with hopes of becoming a barrister.

At the short hearing in Monaghan this week, Garda Sergeant Damien Galligan said DPP directions are still outstanding, and that the State sought to defer the case to November 16.

Acceding to this, Judge Finnegan remanded Ms Perrie Sullivan on continuing bail, to appear at Monaghan District Court again to November 16.

A 44-year-old Dublin man was also arrested and charged following the discovery of the alleged explosives in Ms Perrie Sullivan’s car. Simon O'Donovan, with an address at Sperrin Road in Drimnagh, was remanded in custody after appearing before the Special Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Saturday July 25.

Mr O’Donovan, a member of staff at the Collins Barracks National Museum, had represented himself in a bail hearing, where his application was refused.

*This article was published with support from the Court Reporting Scheme