Law student charged after bomb with Semtex and detonator found in car near Irish border
Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, was arrested after gardaí intercepted her car on the N2 near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. The device, which the court heard contained Semtex, a detonator and a timing power unit, was described as a viable bomb capable of causing catastrophic damage and loss of life.
A 25-year-old law student has appeared in court charged with possession of explosives after gardaí intercepted a car containing a viable bomb near the Irish border in County Monaghan. Isobella Perrie Sullivan, of Abbeylands Park, Clane in Co Kildare, was brought before a special sitting of Trim District Court in Co Meath on Friday evening.
The interception and discovery
Gardaí stopped the car Ms Perrie Sullivan was driving at a petrol station in Carrickmacross at 3.05pm on Wednesday, as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. A Garda Special Detective Unit officer told the court that during a search of the vehicle, a bag was found on the rear seat containing what he believed to be Semtex, a brand of plastic explosive, along with a detonator and a timing power unit. The Irish Defence Forces attended the scene and declared the device was a viable bomb.
It had the potential to cause catastrophic damage to property and loss of life.
- Car stopped by gardaí at petrol station in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan
- Bag containing Semtex, detonator and timing power unit found in rear seat
- Irish Defence Forces attend scene, declare device a viable bomb; area evacuated
- Ms Perrie Sullivan charged at Dundalk garda station, gives no reply
- Special sitting of Trim District Court; bail granted with 15,000 euro surety and curfew
- Further bail hearing scheduled for Monday
Gardaí believed the bomb would have been driven over the border into Northern Ireland. The area was evacuated and Ms Perrie Sullivan was arrested and taken to Dundalk garda station. She was charged under caution on Friday evening at 5.40pm and gave no reply to the charges.
Court appearance and bail
Ms Perrie Sullivan, dressed in a light purple top, sat staring ahead during the 30-minute hearing before Judge Raymond Finnegan. Gardaí objected to bail on the grounds that they believed she would continue in IRA activity. The court was also told she had been arrested on suspicion of being engaged in New IRA operational activity.
The judge agreed to grant bail with a number of stringent conditions: an independent surety of 15,000 euros, surrendering her passport, staying at an address approved by gardaí, providing a mobile phone number to be contactable 24/7, signing on daily at Naas Garda Station, and adhering to a curfew from 9pm to 7am. Ms Perrie Sullivan was remanded in custody with a further bail hearing scheduled for Monday.
Defence case and personal circumstances
Defence solicitor Gavin Booth, of Phoenix Law, told the court his client had been asked by older people to take a bag to the north and had not been aware of what was in it. He said there was no evidence she had opened the bag or knew its contents.
She had been manipulated by older people who had asked her to carry a bag for her.
The court heard Ms Perrie Sullivan lives with her father in Co Kildare and was studying to become a barrister. Her mother is from Mayo. Her family were described as "devastated". Mr Booth said she had been a member of a political group in the past and had spent two years in Syria, but had "moved away" from politics, believing studying law would be a better way to serve the public.
She had previously come to the attention of Northern Irish authorities during a march at Maghaberry prison over conditions of prisoners during the Covid-19 pandemic, and had been before the courts in the north over assaulting a police officer. The court was also told she has a life-limiting illness requiring daily medication flown into the north of Ireland, along with special dietary requirements, and that without these "she could die".
Next steps
The 15,000 euro independent surety must be provided before Ms Perrie Sullivan can be released. She remains in custody with a further bail hearing listed for Monday. The investigation into the wider dissident republican operation is ongoing.
