Man held after explosive device planted under car

THREE families had to be evacuated from their homes in Co Clare yesterday after an explosive device was planted under a car near the village of Doonbeg.

A man from Dublin who had recently moved to the area received a phone call shortly after 11am, warning him that a device had been planted underneath his car.

Gardaí went to his home at Doonmore, on the Kilkee side of Doonbeg, and discovered a device under his car. They then called in the army bomb disposal unit from Collins Barracks, Cork.

Members of the bomb disposal unit, who arrived at around 1pm, removed the device and made it safe.

When it was dismantled, 150gms of explosive material was found inside and gardaí revealed it was a viable explosive device. The parts have been sent to the Garda forensic laboratory in Dublin for further analysis.

A man was arrested in Tallaght, Co Dublin, last night in connection with the discovery of the explosive device. The man in his 30s is being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

The intended target moved to Clare with his partner and their three children under the Rural Resettlement Programme. .

A garda source said the device was similar to those found in Tallaght. in recent months. A garda spokesman said they were treating the incident very seriously.