LAST UPDATE | 5 Jul

A TECHNICAL EXAMINATION of the scene where gardaí and army experts carried out controlled detonations on an “unexplained device” yesterday is underway this morning.

The device was found near Aughinish Alumina factory in County Limerick yesterday afternoon.

The Journal has learned that investigations are at their earliest but that a similar incident at an industrial services unit near the Irish border with Northern Ireland could be linked to last night’s alert.

The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit used controlled detonations to sever key components from gas cylinders. It is understood that a large amount of forensic evidence was saved in the defusal process and a treasure trove of evidence is available to gardaí.

Sources have said a key focus for the investigators will be to determine where the components of the device came from and if there is any forensic traces to track the perpetrator. 

The operation started shortly after 4pm yesterday when the device was found close to an oil tank at the facility.

A Defence Forces spokesman yesterday said that as there was an ongoing operation the military were unable to comment. 

A garda statement said that gardaí were alerted to the suspect device at approximately 3:30pm yesterday. A cordon was established and the EOD team attended the scene.

“The EOD team examined the suspect device which has now been removed from the scene for further examination,” the statement said. “Investigations are ongoing.”

The Aughinish Alumina site has been vandalised a number of times in recent years, including a paint attack at the entrance to the plant in 2022 which prompted a garda investigation.

It is not known if these incidents of criminal damage are related to yesterday’s incident.

The plant is a major employer in the mid-west, and has approximately 450 staff working across its 222-hectare site.

The plant is owned by Rusal, a Russian metals company co-founded by Oleg Deripaska, a businessman with reported close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Deripaska, who remains a shareholder in Rusal, was sanctioned by the US in 2018 and later by the UK in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Known for his strong connections within Russian political and business circles, he was photographed earlier in May attending a Kremlin ceremony ahead of World War II commemorations.

With reporting from Mairead Maguire and Andrew Walsh.