Irish border bomb case against law student delayed further

Prosecutors are awaiting a decision on how to proceed against Isobella Perrie Sullivan, who is accused of possessing a military-grade explosive found near Ireland’s border with Northern Ireland.MANCHESTER, England (CN) — An Irish law student accused of possessing a military-grade explosive found near the Northern Ireland border will remain out on bail while prosecutors await directions on how to proceed with the case.Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, of County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, appeared Monday at Monaghan District Court, where a prosecutor told Judge Raymond Finnegan that directions from Ireland’s director of public prosecutions were still awaited.The judge adjourned the case until Nov. 16 and continued Sullivan’s bail.The director of public prosecutions is Ireland’s independent state prosecutor and decides whether criminal cases should proceed and what charges should be brought.Sullivan is charged with possession of an explosive substance after Gardaí — Ireland’s national police service — stopped a vehicle near Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, on July 22.Carrickmacross lies about 65 miles from Belfast and 90 miles from Dublin.The military-grade explosive was found inside a bag in the vehicle, along with a detonator.Gardaí have described it as one of the most significant car bombs recovered in Ireland since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the U.S.-brokered peace accord that largely ended the sectarian conflict known as the Troubles.During the Troubles, explosives and weapons were frequently smuggled across the border from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland for attacks by republican paramilitary groups.Investigators believe the device was assembled in Dublin and was being transported across the border for use in a planned attack in Northern Ireland.Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom, while the Republic of Ireland is an independent country. The two share a land border.At Monday’s brief hearing, Sullivan was represented by lawyer Gavin Booth of Belfast-based Phoenix Law.At an earlier hearing, Sullivan’s attorney said she had been asked to take a bag to Northern Ireland and did not know what it contained.Sullivan’s bail conditions include a prohibition on contact with anyone in Saoradh or the New IRA.Saoradh is a small Irish republican political party whose members and activities have been linked by Irish authorities to the New IRA, a dissident republican paramilitary group.Irish republicanism seeks a united Ireland, while dissident groups such as the New IRA reject the peace settlement established by the Good Friday Agreement and continue to support violence.The case is part of an investigation into suspected activity by violent dissident republicans.Gardaí previously said the seized device was a complete bomb rather than bomb-making components.Police in the Republic of Ireland have worked closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on security threats from dissident republican groups.The Provisional Irish Republican Army, the main republican paramilitary group during the Troubles, ended its armed campaign in 2005. Smaller groups, including the New IRA, have continued to carry out attacks in Northern Ireland and elsewhere on the island of Ireland.Another person, Simon O’Donovan, 44, is also facing charges from the investigation.O’Donovan, an employee at a Dublin museum, is accused of possessing an explosive substance in Dublin on July 22.He has been remanded in custody until Oct. 5.Sullivan’s case will return to Monaghan District Court on Nov. 16.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads