Warning on bomb finds in Dublin

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has expressed his concern for the safety of Army bomb disposal experts who have been called on to defuse or examine three bombs used in gangland disputes in Dublin in recent months.

Senior Garda sources said the men who escaped the immediate vicinity of the pipe bomb explosion in Clonshaugh, Dublin, on Wednesday were lucky to have avoided being killed or seriously injured.

They believe those who designed and planted the device outside the house of a Dublin car dealer intended to kill their target.

Mr O'Dea said while such attacks would always cause concern, the latest one was particularly worrying coming as it did after the discovery of two similar devices in Dublin since November.

"Obviously the device that was found was quite elaborate," Mr O'Dea said of the latest incident.

"Although it was simple enough to make if you have the expertise, it was quite elaborate in that it was capable of doing an awful lot of damage."

He was mindful that Army bomb disposal experts were involved in disabling and examining such devices.

"We are always conscious of the safety of members of the Defence Forces whether they are used in their bomb disposal capacity or whether we are using them on foreign dangerous missions such as Liberia.

"On the other hand they are professionals. The explosives and ordnance unit are professionals and they know the risks they are undertaking. It comes with the territory."

Wednesday's explosion followed the recent discovery of two other devices in Dublin. One was found in a vehicle on the M50 in December. A device was also found in November close to Dublin Airport.

Senior Garda sources last night said they believed the latest bomb had been supplied by dissident republicans, most likely by members or former members of the Continuity IRA. They believe it may have been used as part of a row over money.

The pipe bomb device was concealed in a flask and was connected to a timer.

Shotgun pellets and nails were packed around the device inside the flask. It was left sitting on the boot of one of a number of cars parked outside the Clonshaugh house. When two men went to move one of the vehicles just before 5pm the flask fell to the ground. It broke in a number of pieces and the nails and shotgun pellets were spread on the driveway.

The two men at the scene heard the timer device ticking. As they ran to safety, the device exploded. Parts of the device were embedded in a number of nearby vehicles.

Army bomb disposal experts examined the remains of the device on Wednesday to ensure it was safe. Gardaí carried out a detailed technical examination of the scene yesterday.