Story perspectives

Gardaí Arrest Woman with Semtex, Detonator in Dublin Stop

7/26/2026

Summary

Sullivan Charged

Gardaí stopped Isobella Perrie Sullivan’s car on 24 July 2026 and charged her after seizing a bag of Semtex, a detonator and a timing unit.
Judge Raymond Finnegan granted Sullivan bail with a €15,000 surety, passport surrender, a 9 pm-7 am curfew and a ban on contacting Saoradh or the New IRA.
A man in his 40s was also charged and will appear before the Special Criminal Court.

Summary

Bryant Thanks Gardaí

The raid was intelligence-led, confirming the stop was not random.
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant thanked the Gardaí for quick, decisive action that saved lives.
Security sources said the bomb’s sophisticated engineering raised concerns about internet-driven radicalisation.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the bomb served only a wreckers’ agenda.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson warned the Irish threat assessment may lag behind dissident danger.

History

Historical Context

The 9 February 1996 Docklands truck bomb, planted by the Provisional IRA, killed two civilians and injured over 100, ending the IRA’s 17-month ceasefire and prompting renewed security measures. Decades of dissident activity, exemplified by the Real IRA’s 2000-2001 London attacks, set the backdrop for Gardaí’s July 2026 seizure of Semtex and a detonator near Dublin, underscoring persistent cross-border threats.

1 of 3

Sullivan Charged

Gardaí stopped Isobella Perrie Sullivan’s car on 24 July 2026 and charged her after seizing a bag of Semtex, a detonator and a timing unit.
Judge Raymond Finnegan granted Sullivan bail with a €15,000 surety, passport surrender, a 9 pm-7 am curfew and a ban on contacting Saoradh or the New IRA.
A man in his 40s was also charged and will appear before the Special Criminal Court.

1 / 3