Gang wars and feuds blamed for surge in pipebombs
Local gang wars, intimidation by terrorist gangs, and personal feuds are driving the violence.
Gardaí are increasingly concerned at the growing “proliferation” of pipebombs. They are particularly fearful for the safety of children and of innocent people who are mistakenly targeted.
Last June a five-year-old boy had seven fingers blown off after he picked up a pipebomb which had been left outside his mother’s house in Co Wicklow.
Last week, two children had a lucky escape when a pipebomb was thrown through their sitting-room window as they watched television in Drimnagh, south Dublin. However, it did not explode.
Figures provided to the Irish Examiner show that 96 viable devices were found in 2012, 26 more than 2011, itself a record year. There were 16 cases where pipebombs exploded last year — again the highest on record.
Already this year 15 viable devices have been located, including one explosion. Figures released by the Defence Forces show there were:
* 96 viable devices in 2012, compared to 70 in 2011, 52 in 2010, and 63 in 2009;
* 16 explosions in 2012, 12 in 2011, three in 2010, and seven in 2009.
Post-blast analysis is carried out by army bomb disposal experts in situations where the pipebomb or grenade has gone off.
Last June, PJ Duffy, 5, had his hands ripped apart — losing seven fingers — when he picked up a device left outside the front door of his house in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.
The following month another five-year-old boy had a lucky escape after he picked up a viable device which had been delivered to the family home in Farranree, Cork, but it did not explode.
“These devices, whether they are viable or not, are very menacing,” said a senior Garda source.
“They are used to intimidate, and in cases where they explode can cause serious disfigurement to adults and children alike. And then there are cases where the wrong house is targeted.”
He added: “There has been a huge proliferation in the last two years and that is why the commissioner set up a specific operation.”
The operation, co-named Enchant, comprises personnel from the special detective unit — which tackles subversive organisations — the organised crime unit and the Garda National Drug Unit. It works with the senior investigating officer in relation to each incident and the Garda Technical Bureau.
Last October, a major operation involving 80 gardaí on a Traveller halting site in Belcamp, north Dublin, hit a supplier of pipebombs to both criminal gangs and dissident republicans. Two pipebombs were found during the raid.
