Suspected explosive ‘just a large firework’

A SUSPECTED explosive found on a telecoms mast in Co Donegal was made from fireworks and DIY materials, a forensics expert told the Morris Tribunal into garda corruption yesterday.

It was discovered by former detective sergeant John White at the mast in Ardara on November 19, 1996.

Detective Sergeant William Brennan, of the garda ballistics section, showed the components to the tribunal, which is examining allegations it was constructed at a Donegal garda station and planted at the mast in order to arrest a number of people.

Three men were detained after the discovery of the device, which came two weeks after a container at the site was burnt, causing Ir£50,000 of damage.

In previous protests, locals opposed to a transmitter being installed at the mast had strewn nails on the road and glued locks, the tribunal has heard.

Mr Brennan said he examined the device in November 1996 and found it was constructed from a 11.75-inch plastic water pipe, a wooden bung from a gardening tool handle and firework powder and fuses.

He said the device was similar to a pipebomb, but while a metal pipebomb could do a lot of damage, this was a plastic tube containing firework elements.

“If properly ignited, it would produce a very loud report or bang, but would not be of the same magnitude as a pipe bomb at all.”

Mr Brennan said the 75 grams of powder contained in the device was a mixture of potassium chloride and aluminium powder which came from commercially available fireworks.

“I tried to ignite them, but while a small part ignited it would burn very slowly and produce sparks.”

He was asked by Paul McDermott, senior counsel for the tribunal, if a garda could mistake it for an explosive device.

“It would certainly at first glance look like a pipebomb-type of device but it’s just a very large firework,” he replied.

Another forensics expert, John McCullough, told the tribunal he had examined samples of the powder and nail scrapings of two suspected protesters, Hugh and Anthony Diver, who were arrested over the planting of the device.

A forensic scientist for the Department of Justice, he confirmed the sample was potassium chloride and fine aluminium powder.

“I didn’t find anything similar in the nail scrapings of Hugh and AnthonyDiver,” he said.