Woman (25) further remanded on explosive charges

Defendant due before Cavan court tomorrow

A 25-year-old woman, charged in connection with the interception of a bomb that was discovered in a car in Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan last Wednesday, has been further remanded in custody.

Isobella Perrie Sullivan, with an address at Abbeylands Park, Clane, Co Kildare, appeared before Monaghan District Court via videolink from the Dóchas Centre this morning. She has been charged with the possession of explosives.

Sergeant Damien Galligan told the court that directions from the Director for Prosecutions (DPP) are awaited in the case. His application was to remand the defendant in custody with consent to bail.

Judge Raymond Finnegan said that Ms Perrie Sullivan's solicitor was not in court today and he remanded her in custody, with consent to bail, to appear again before Monaghan District Court on 7 August.

He said this appearance would be via videolink if she was still in custody, or in person if she has taken up bail.

Addressing the court briefly, Ms Perrie Sullivan said: "I thought I was getting released today with bail".

Judge Finnegan said he didn't have an application before him today to approve a surety so he couldn't approve it.

Detective Sergeant Eamon O'Neill told the court that gardaí were still making inquiries about the surety put forward.

He asked the court to update the bail conditions to include that Ms Perrie O'Sullivan not apply for any travel documents.

However, towards the end of the court sitting, barrister Sara Brennan appeared to ask the judge approve an independent surety.

Judge Finnegan remanded Ms Perrie Sullivan with consent to bail to appear via video link before Cavan District Court tomorrow (Tuesday).

The defendant first appeared before a special sitting of Trim District Court on Friday evening following her arrest.

She was charged with possession of an explosive substance, 394 grammes of Semtex, a military/commercial detonator and an improvised timer/power unit at Aclint, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

It's alleged the defendant, a law student, was the driver of the vehicle transporting the device.

A detective gave evidence of having charged the accused with the alleged offence at Dundalk Garda Station. There were objections to bail and a bail hearing was held before presiding Judge Raymond Finnegan.

An application for bail was made by defending solicitor Gavin Booth who said that his client was a law student who had a life-limiting medical condition. He described her as someone who was a perfect candidate for bail.

Ms Sullivan, he said, who was not seeking free legal aid, had bail of €10,000 available from her father.

Judge Finnegan said he wanted an alternative bail person. He fixed bail at €15,000 and said that person would have to be approved by the Gardaí and the Court. He also applied strict conditions.

These include that she is not to engage with anyone from New IRA, or anyone convicted by the Special Criminal Court, or Foradh Party; and provide a mobile phone number to gardaí.

Man refused bail on explosive charges

Meanwhile, a man in his 40s appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Saturday evening in connection with the alleged incident.

Simon O'Donovan (44), with an address at Sperrin Road in Dublin 12, is charged with being in possession of explosive substances at St Lawrence Road in Chapelizod, Dublin 10, on July 22.

Detective Sergeant Shane Noone gave evidence of Mr O'Donovan’s arrest, charge, and caution.

He told the court that Mr O’Donovan replied "I don’t understand" when the charge was read to him.

The defendant, who had no legal representation due to the ongoing free legal aid strike, said he would like to apply for bail.

Justice Patrick McGrath informed Mr O'Donovan that the Special Criminal Court did not have the power for a bail hearing but advised he could convene a High Court bail application.

The defendant opted to go ahead with a High Court bail application and the Special Criminal Court case was adjourned.

After a short break, Justice McGrath returned to hear the bail application.

Detective Sergeant Noone told the High Court he was objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the offence.

Representing himself, Mr O'Donovan said he believed it was unfair not to grant him bail, given that it was granted in another court hearing related to the case that also involved a charge of possession of explosives.

He also said he felt it was unfair the other case was brought before the District Court and not the Special Criminal Court.

The defendant said he would adhere to any bail conditions imposed.

Rejecting bail, Judge McGrath said given the seriousness of the alleged offence and the strength of the evidence, he did not believe any bail conditions would meet what he described as "legitimate objections".

He told the defendant he could make a further application for bail at any time.