National Museum worker granted €40,000 bail over Semtex possession charge
Simon O'Donovan, a Collins Barracks museum employee, was released on strict conditions after being charged with possessing a military-grade explosive device.
Museum employee accused of carrying Semtex released on €40,000 High Court bail
A National Museum employee charged with possessing a military-grade Semtex explosive device has been granted €40,000 bail by the High Court, the Irish Times reports.
Simon O'Donovan (44), of Sperrin Road, Dublin 12, had been remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court before successfully applying for release on Tuesday. The court heard he was a member of Saoradh, a republican group aligned with dissident elements.
A Garda Special Detective Unit (SDU) officer, Detective Sergeant Shane Noone, told the court he was concerned O'Donovan "would continue to engage in operational activities to further the aims of New IRA".
Seized at the border
O'Donovan was arrested following an SDU operation in July in which a car was stopped in Co Monaghan near the Border. He is charged that on July 22nd, at St Laurence's Road, Chapelizod, Dublin 10, he did knowingly have in his possession an improvised explosive device, contrary to the Explosive Substances Act.
Noone told the court that gardaí recovered 394 grammes of military-grade Semtex, a timer, a timing switch, and a viable detonator from the vehicle. "An unintended detonation would have caused catastrophic damage and serious loss of life or serious injury," he said.
CCTV evidence
Noone alleged O'Donovan was "captured on CCTV at 1.33pm on July 22nd, leaving Collins Barracks Museum with a distinctive holdall bag in his possession". The court heard O'Donovan had worked at the museum for a decade in the position of deputy facilities officer.
He was subsequently "tracked" on CCTV cycling to the War Memorial Gardens, where he met his co-accused, law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, some 20 minutes later. O'Donovan was allegedly observed showing Perrie Sullivan the contents of the bag at St Lawrence Road, after which she drove by car to Aclint, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, where she was stopped by SDU officers.
Noone told the court the device had been transported to and stored at the museum, which "posed a risk to members of the public and tourists, not to mention targets", and alleged that O'Donovan showed "blatant disregard" for those risks.
On arrest, the accused is alleged to have replied: "This is harassment because I am a member of Saoradh" — an organisation Noone described as a far-left political group formed by dissident republicans in both the Republic and the North.
Strict bail conditions
Judge Mícheál P O'Higgins acknowledged that gardaí objected to bail but said it could be granted subject to strict conditions. O'Donovan must lodge €10,000 personally and provide an independent surety of €30,000, to be frozen in the surety's account; that surety has yet to be confirmed and may be endorsed later in the District Court.
Additional conditions require O'Donovan to surrender his passport, reside at his current address, observe a 10pm–7am curfew, remain contactable by mobile phone at all times, and sign on daily at a local Garda station. He is also prohibited from having any direct or indirect contact with members or events of Saoradh, from entering the Dublin 7 area or Collins Barracks National Museum, and from contacting witnesses or Perrie Sullivan.
Det Sgt Noone, in agreement with Niamh O'Carroll for the State, said he remained concerned that O'Donovan could commit further offences and interfere with witnesses.
O'Donovan is to remain in custody with consent to bail until all stipulated funds have been provided. He is due before the non-jury Special Criminal Court on October 5th, when he is expected to be served with the book of evidence.
Co-accused on bail
Perrie Sullivan (25), of Abbeylands Park, Clane, Co Kildare, was previously charged with possession of explosives on July 22nd in connection with the same investigation. She was released on €15,000 bail on conditions that include no contact with anyone in Saoradh or the New IRA, after the car she was travelling in was stopped by gardaí on the N2 at Aclint. Her case has been adjourned until September 28th.
Source: Irish Times