CIRA bomb-maker ‘may be behind hoax attack on garda’

GARDAÍ are investigating whether a hoax pipe bomb planted outside a garda’s home yesterday was constructed by a bomb-maker suspected of being linked to other recent incidents.

The discovery of the elaborate device was yesterday described as a “sinister development” by both gardaí and politicians.

Security sources suspect a bomb-maker inside the Continuity IRA (CIRA) may have manufactured many of the pipe bombs discovered in the last four months. “Certainly the finger is pointing at the CIRA or possibly someone else with considerable expertise in bomb making,” said one source.

Yesterday’s device was spotted underneath a car in the driveway of the garda’s home in west Dublin, by a family member on her way to work at around 8am.

A garda spokeswoman said the area was sealed off and nearby houses evacuated.

“At 9.21am it was declared to be a hoax.”

A spokesman for the Defence Forces yesterday confirmed that an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team was dispatched to the house, arriving at 9am.

“We spent about an hour there. Our people X-rayed the device, concluded it was safe and that there was no explosive content.”

But he said it was an elaborate hoax.

“It had all the appearances of the real thing, other than the explosive content.”

Garda forensic experts combed the area for any possible evidence.

A senior garda investigation was immediately set up to establish who might have been behind the attack and where the hoax bomb came from.

The garda is a long serving member of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which targets organised crime. Detectives are already on the hunt for the bomb-maker following a pipe bomb explosion in Coolock last Wednesday.

Senior gardaí have said that the likely bomb-maker was also suspected of involvement in a pipe bomb found on Dublin’s M50 last December.

Security sources also said yesterday’s device was very similar to a complicated hoax bomb found in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, last November.

“The suspicion was these bombs are being made to order for criminals,” said one source.

The targeting of the garda’s home has deeply concerned gardaí of all ranks.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keefe said: “The discovery of a sophisticated hoax bomb under a car belonging to a garda is a very sinister development.

“The hoax device could be interpreted as a declaration of war on the gardaí and their families by organised criminals.”

Meanwhile, Store Street Garda Station in Dublin had to be partially evacuated after a bomb scare.

The alert was raised at 4.30pm after a package left at the station gave rise to fears that it could contain an incendiary device.

Army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene and examined the package, which was in an envelope, but quickly determined it was harmless.