A 25-year-old law student, Isobella Perrie Sullivan, has been charged with possession of explosives following the discovery of a bomb in a car in County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland. Sullivan, from Clane, County Kildare, appeared at a special sitting of Trim District Court on Friday.
The interception occurred near Carrickmacross on Wednesday as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. Gardaí, the Irish police, believed the device was intended to be transported across the border into Northern Ireland.
During a search of the vehicle Sullivan was driving, officers found a bag containing what was described in court as a viable bomb. A member of the Garda Special Detective Unit testified that the device included a timing power unit, a detonator, and suspected Semtex plastic explosive. The Irish Defence Forces were called to the scene to assess the device.
Sullivan's defense solicitor stated that she is studying to become a barrister and lives with her father in County Kildare. The court granted her bail under strict conditions, including a €15,000 independent surety, surrender of her passport, a curfew, and daily sign-on at a garda station. She was remanded in custody pending a further bail hearing scheduled for Monday.