Real IRA blamed for Border bombing bid

THE dissident republican group, the Real IRA, is believed to have been behind the attempt to bomb property in Co Louth belonging to businessman and former Seanad member, Dr Edward Haughey.

At lunchtime on Tuesday, a device containing 32kgs of a homemade explosive mix was found inside a house under construction for Dr Haughey in Hackballscross near the border.

The fertiliser mix had been stuffed in a gas cylinder and had been primed. However, the detonator failed to trigger the device, which would have caused immense damage.

The incident has been condemned by the Government while the Northern Ireland Office described it as a “cowardly attack”.

Dr Haughey, founder of Northbrooke Laboratories, is now known as Lord Ballyedmond and represents the Ulster Unionist Party in the House of Lords.

Experts from the Army Bomb Disposal Unit made the device safe yesterday. Investigation gardaí believe it is the work of dissident republicans, probably the Real IRA.

The republican splinter group has been active in recent weeks and has claimed responsibility for firebombing four large retail stores in Newry last week.

In its report in April this year, the Independent Monitoring Commission said it believed the Real IRA was behind several hoax bombing incidents, robberies and attempted kidnappings.