Dublin museum worker charged with possession of explosives along with trainee barrister after ‘car bomb’ was driven towards Northern Ireland

An Irish museum worker has been charged with possession of explosives after a ‘car bomb’ attack near the Northern Ireland border.

Simon O’Donovan was arrested following the seizure of a car bomb by the Garda Special Detective Unit near Carrickmacross, about six miles from the border.

The 44-year-old man, whose address is in Crimagh, Dublin, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in the Irish capital on Saturday evening.

O’Donovan represented himself at the hearing, where his bail application was refused and the court was told he worked at the National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks.

The detained person is expected to appear before the Special Criminal Court again on Monday.

A trainee lawyer was also charged with possession of explosives in connection with what was suspected to be a new IRA operation.

Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, from County Kildare, appeared in Trim District Court on Friday after she was allegedly caught driving the car bomb towards Northern Ireland.

His lawyer said he was asked to carry a bag across the border but was unaware of what was inside.

The 44-year-old man was charged with possession of explosives after a ‘car bomb’ was seized by police near the Northern Ireland border.

The court heard that during the search of the vehicle, a bag containing Semtex and explosives was found in the back seat.

Perrie Sullivan was released on bail but remains in custody ahead of another bail hearing on Monday.

Irish police said there was an ‘extremely serious seizure’ of a device made of military-grade plastic that could cause serious damage.

The device is understood to be the most advanced bomb seized by police since the Troubles.

His lawyer Gavin Booth also told the district court that he had previously been a member of a ‘political group’ and had spent time in Syria.

But Mr. Booth said Sullivan had moved away from politics while focusing on his work as a lawyer.

Sullivan, known as Perrie, was a student at ATU Donegal in Letterkenny and graduated with a law degree last year.

He added that Sullivan, who lives with his father, was ‘manipulated’ and that they could not understand what happened this week.

Guarda stopped an alleged bomb attack here in County Monaghan, six miles from the Northern Ireland border, last Wednesday.

Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, was arrested after Irish police said they had ‘seized an extremely significant quantity’ of a device on Wednesday.

The trainee solicitor is photographed leaving Trim District Court on Friday evening after being released on bail.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly spoke to reporters at the graduation event on Friday

Mr Booth said his parents would ‘keep him under strict control and ensure he complies with all conditions’ if he is released on bail.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly confirmed details of the operation when he spoke to the media at a Garda graduation event in Co Tipperary on Friday.

‘To be clear, what we found was an extremely significant seizure,’ he said. ‘So this was an explosive device.’

He added: ‘Any seizure of this nature is truly worrying.’