Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

The Deputy will be aware that there have been three recorded incidents involving the use of so-called pipe bombs recently in Dublin, all of which required the services of an Army explosives ordnance disposal, EOD, team.

In the first incident, which occurred at approximately 4.25 p.m. on 8 February 2006 outside a residence in Coolock, a small, flask-like object fell from the boot of a car on to the ground and broke. Moments later, thankfully after the persons in the immediate vicinity, whose suspicions were raised, had an opportunity to move away, the device exploded causing minor damage to nearby cars. Fortunately, no persons were injured. An Army EOD team attended the scene and confirmed that a pipe bomb had exploded and that the area was clear.

In the second incident, which occurred on 10 February outside a residence at Roseglen Avenue in Kilbarrack, a substantial explosion occurred under a car parked in the driveway. Significant damage was caused to the car in question and to the front of the residence, although again, thankfully, no persons were injured. The services of an Army EOD team were sought, and a thorough examination of the scene revealed no further devices.

Unlike the previous two incidents, the third incident, which occurred at approximately 8 a.m. on 15 February, involved a hoax device placed underneath the private car of a member of the Garda Síochána attached to the national bureau of criminal investigation. At the time, the car was parked in the driveway of the member's private residence. Again, an Army EOD team attended the scene and determined, after expert examination, that the device was a hoax.

In all three cases, the scenes were preserved for technical examination. The devices were examined by the Garda technical bureau and the three incidents remain under active investigation.

Given the spate of such incidents in what is a relatively short period of time, it is natural that there has been much speculation about possible links between the incidents. While the incidents remain under investigation, and I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome, it is not possible to be definitive on the matter. However, at the moment the Garda believes there is no link and that the three cases all involve different people doing different things.

There has also been speculation that the pipe bombs were manufactured by dissident republican groups and sold on to criminal gangs. I am not in a position to confirm or deny this speculation, but I do not believe the three incidents are connected, even on the basis of the manufacturer of the devices. Without commenting on any specific incident, there is concern about interaction between dissident republican groups and criminal gangs. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of the groups themselves in general criminality.

Although there were three such devices in fairly rapid order, the evidence seems to suggest they were unconnected, different in character and not put together by the same people — a coincidence rather than a pattern.

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