An employee at the National Museum of Ireland has been charged with explosives offenses, according to the Irish Mirror, after Irish authorities said they intercepted a suspected car bomb near the border with Northern Ireland.
Simon O’Donovan, 44, who prosecutors identified as an employee at the National Museum’s Collins Barracks site in Dublin, appeared before Ireland’s Special Criminal Court on Saturday after being charged with possession of explosives. Authorities allege the device was discovered after police stopped and searched a vehicle in County Monaghan on July 22.
According to court proceedings cited by Irish media, police recovered what they described as a fully assembled explosive device, including a timer, detonator, and what is believed to be Semtex explosive. O’Donovan allegedly replied, “I don’t understand,” after being informed of the charge.
O’Donovan, who represented himself during a bail application after telling the court he could not afford private counsel, was denied bail and remanded in custody. He is due to appear again before the Special Criminal Court on Monday.
A second defendant, 25-year-old law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, has also been charged in connection with the case. Her solicitor told the court she had been asked to transport a bag across the border and was unaware of its contents. She was granted bail but remained in custody pending a further hearing.
The National Museum of Ireland didn’t immediately answer an ARTnews request for information on what role O’Donovan held at the or whether the institution had taken any action regarding his employment.
