LAST UPDATE | 26 Jul

A DUBLIN MAN was denied bail following a late-night sitting of the non-jury Special Criminal Court on Saturday evening, having been charged with possession of an explosive device in connection with the alleged discovery of a bomb in a car in Co Monaghan earlier this week.

The three-judge court heard this evening that the accused man is alleged to have stored the explosive device in the confines of the National Museum at Collins’ Barracks where he worked.

A garda said that if the device had detonated, it would have caused catastrophic damage. The court also heard that gardaí believe that if the accused were released on bail, he would engage in acts to further the objectives of the dissident Republican group known as the ‘New IRA’.

Ruling on Simon O’Donovan’s bail application this evening, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath said there was “no doubt on the face of it” that if the evidence alleged against the accused were proven before a court then he has a “very deep and very continuing involvement” in the alleged offence.

A car carrying the device was stopped while travelling on the N2 south of Carrickmacross last Wednesday.

O’Donovan (44), with an address at Sperrin Road in Dublin 12 is charged that on the 22 July 2026 at St Laurence’s Road, Chapelizod, Dublin 10 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.

Det Sgt Shane Noone of the Special Detective Unit on Saturday evening told State solicitor Liam Mulholland that he arrested O’Donovan at 5.06pm for the possession of explosives.

The Det Sgt said he cautioned him in the ordinary way and that O’Donovan replied: “I don’t understand”. When the detective explained it again to O’Donovan the accused man said he understood.

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

The detective said he met O’Donovan in the precincts of the Special Criminal Court on Saturday evening, where he handed him a copy of the original charge sheet which was explained to him. The detective said he explained the charge in ordinary language and cautioned O’Donovan, who made no reply.

Earlier, defence solicitor Darragh Mackin from Belfast-based firm Phoenix Law said that 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. Mackin said he was attending this evening’s sitting out of courtesy to the court.

The Special Criminal Court hearing was concluded and adjourned until Monday before O’Donovan applied for bail before High Court judge, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath.

Gardaí objected to bail under section 2 of the Bail Act, which allows a court to deny bail to prevent the commission of a serious offence by an accused person.

Det Sgt Noone said O’Donovan was first arrested shortly after 5pm on 23 July at Parkgate Street in Dublin 8.

The detective said the accused had been captured on CCTV leaving his place of employment in the museum at Collins’ Barracks in Dublin 7 on 22 July last carrying a distinctive black holdall bag. He entered the War Memorial Gardens where he met Isobella Perrie Sullivan at 1.53pm.

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

He said Perrie Sullivan then travelled from Dublin to Carrickmacross, where a distinctive 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.

Outlining his objections to bail, the detective said it is likely if O’Donovan was admitted to bail he would continue to engage in operational activity in furtherance of the objectives and aims of the ‘New IRA’.

He said the accused had stored the device in the confines of the museum and if it had detonated it would have caused catastrophic damage.

Det Sgt 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.

The detective said he has a serious concern that the accused would interfere with and intimidate witnesses, particularly the staff at Collins’ Barracks.

Asked by the accused why a person on a similar charge was granted bail previously, the detective said that was in the District Court and not the Special Criminal Court. The witness went on to say that no bail conditions would allay his fears.

O’Donovan commented: “It seems quite unfair and seems to be no continuity for a lay man how bail is granted”.

The accused said he did not wish to give evidence, adding: “I disagree with all of the stuff mentioned by the detective and I would go with any bail conditions and abide by them.”

Ruling on O’Donovan’s bail application this evening, Mr Justice McGrath said there was no doubt but that this was a very serious offence, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

The judge said there was “no doubt on the face of it” that if the evidence alleged against the accused were proven before a court then the accused has a “very deep and very continuing involvement” in the alleged offence.

The judge said there was a real risk the accused might interfere with witnesses and the investigative process if released on bail. He said he was satisfied no bail conditions would meet the concerns of gardaí.

Refusing bail, the judge said he was satisfied that the objections to bail had been made out. He said that if the accused wished to obtain the assistance of a lawyer he may wish to make a further bail application at any time.

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

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

A member of the Garda Special Detective Unit gave evidence of her arrest, charge, and caution at Dundalk Garda Station.

He said that Ms Perrie Sullivan, who is studying to become a barrister, was stopped in Carrickmacross last Wednesday, and that the vehicle she was driving was searched.

He said that a device was found in a bag in the back of the car, which contained a timing power unit, a detonator, and what he believed to be Semtex – a brand of plastic explosive.

The Detective Garda said that the Defence Force’s EOD were called and subsequently determined that the device was viable

Ms Perrie Sullivan was remanded in custody with consent to bail to Monaghan District Court on Monday.

Gardaí also requested another condition, that she not have any contact with anyone in the Saoradh political party or the New IRA.