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Car bomb intercepted near border
Irish police charged law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, with possessing explosives after intercepting what Gardaí called an “extremely significant” car bomb near the Northern Ireland border during an investigation of dissident republicans.
“20 Minutes with AFP Published July 24, 2026 at 21:03 • Updated July 24, 2026 at 22:17 Irish justice authorities were alerted after the discovery, on Wednesday, of an explosive device in a vehicle intercepted near the border with Northern Ireland”
The stop happened on the N2 at Aclint, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, on Wednesday, when officers found plastic explosives and a detonator in a bag in the back of the car.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said, “What we found was an extremely significant seizure,” adding, “This was an explosive device.”
The Irish Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal team examined the vehicle, and the court heard the device was viable, while the case was set for bail conditions at Trim District Court in County Meath.
Sullivan was granted bail after her appearance in Trim District Court, with police requesting she not contact anyone with Saoradh or the New Irish Republican Army.
Bail conditions and defense
At a special sitting of Trim District Court in County Meath on Friday evening, defense solicitor Gavin Booth said Sullivan had been asked to take a bag to the north and had not been aware of what was in it.
The court heard officers stopped the vehicle travelling on the N2 south of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, and that a bag in the rear seat contained Semtex and a detonator, prompting the area to be evacuated and Sullivan’s arrest.
Judge Raymond Finnegan agreed to allow bail under conditions including an independent €15,000 surety, surrendering her passport, signing in daily at Naas Garda Station, and observing a curfew of 9pm to 7am.
Gardaí also requested that Sullivan not have any contact with anyone in the Saoradh political party or the New IRA, and police said the operation targeted dissident republican activity.
RTE.ie reported that Sullivan was remanded in custody with consent to bail to be heard at Monaghan District Court on Monday, while a man in his 40s remained detained in connection with offences against the state.
Threat persists on both sides
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly framed the seizure as part of an ongoing threat, saying, “We certainly know that there are a small minority of dissident republicans who did not agree with the Good Friday Agreement.”
“Arrests in Monaghan July 24, 2026 | 11:58 Cadena 3 Editorial Staff LONDON — The Irish police announced Friday the interception of a car bomb deemed "extremely substantial" earlier this week, in an operation that forms part of an investigation into dissident Republican groups near the border with Northern Ireland”
Kelly added that he described them as “radicalised republicans” and said, “this is a threat that we’re going to continue to face for some time in An Garda Síochána.”
The Guardian reported that security sources said the probable intended use was as an under-car explosive for an attack in Northern Ireland, after the device was described as “highly sophisticated” and “advanced.”
The Independent quoted Jim O’Callaghan describing the seizure as “very worrying,” while PSNI assistant chief constable Davy Beck said police on both sides shared a “joint commitment” to tackle the dissident republican terror threat.
In Northern Ireland, DUP leader Gavin Robinson called the development “chilling,” while Sinn Féin Stormont assembly member Gerry Kelly described those responsible as “reckless,” as the investigation continued to identify others involved in the plot.
