Car bomb suspect released on €15K bail

Woman (25) before court on explosive charges

A 25-year-old woman, charged in connection with a ‘significant’ and ‘viable’ bomb discovery in a car in Carrickmacross last week, has made €15,000 bail after a period in custody.

A co-accused in the case, meanwhile, has been remanded in custody having appeared before the Special Criminal Court in the matter.

Isobella Perrie Sullivan, with an address at Abbeylands Park, Clane, Co Kildare, appeared before Cavan District Court via videolink from the Dóchas Centre yesterday (Tuesday).

The law student is charged with possession of an explosive substance, 394 grammes of Semtex, a military/commercial detonator and an improvised timer/power unit arising from the interception of the car by gardaí on July 22 last at Aclint, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

Ms Perrie Sullivan had previously been remanded by Judge Raymond Finnegan, with consent to bail on strict conditions, from a special sitting of Trim District Court on Friday evening following her arrest.

When her case came before Cavan yesterday, a man from Claremorris was named as an independent surety and accepted by Judge Finnegan. The man’s account will now be frozen to the specified amount of €15,000. The application was moved by Sara Brennan, BL.

Sergeant Damien Galligan told the court that directions from the Office of the Director for Prosecutions (DPP) are awaited in the case. Judge Finnegan remanded the defendant on bail to appear before Monaghan District Court on August 7, in person, for DPP directions.

The defendant also appeared at Monaghan District Court on Monday of this week when there was no solicitor available to move her application to approve the surety.

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

During the original bail application hearing in Trim on Friday, it was alleged the defendant 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.

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. Ms Perrie Sullivan is also prohibited from applying for any travel documents.

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 the 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.

The High Court heard O’Donovan is alleged to have stored the explosive device at the National Museum at Collins’ Barracks, Dublin, where he worked.

Det Sgt Noone said, if the device had detonated, it would have caused catastrophic damage.

He said the accused had been captured on CCTV leaving his place of employment in the museum on July 22 carrying a black holdall bag. He entered the War Memorial Gardens, where he is alleged to have met Isobella Perrie Sullivan at 1:53pm.

The witness said the accused was observed showing Ms Perrie Sullivan the contents of the bag before she took possession of it.

He said Ms Perrie Sullivan then travelled from Dublin to Carrickmacross, where a black holdall bag was discovered in the rear of a vehicle containing an explosive device; 394g of military grade Semtex, a timer switch and a viable detonator.

Det Sgt Shane Noone said his belief was that, if O’Donovan were released on bail, he would continue to engage in IRA operational activity and carry out the transportation of weapons, personnel and communications. Should he be granted bail, the detective said O’Donovan may interfere with the investigative process by destroying evidence and interfering with witnesses, particularly the staff at Collins’ Barracks.

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”.

When the case was mentioned before Judge McGrath at the Special Criminal Court on Monday, State solicitor Ciara Vibien sought a date for service of the book of evidence.

The non-jury Special Criminal Court remanded the accused man, Simon O’Donovan, in custody, having heard he remains unrepresented by a solicitor due to the ongoing strike over free legal aid.

The judge remanded the accused in custody until October 5 but could him he could make a further application for bail to the High Court.

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