Gardaí were last night investigating the discovery of a 70lb bomb found at a house undergoing building work in Co Louth owned by leading businessman and former senator Dr Edward Haughey, writes Conor Lally
The Irish Times has learned that an attempt had been made to detonate the device at the property owned by Mr Haughey - now Lord Ballyedmond - on the Louth-Armagh border.
Well-placed security sources were last night blaming dissident republicans.
The Real IRA, which has been involved in a number of recent attacks, had emerged as the main suspect. It claimed responsibility for firebomb attacks on nine shops in Newry, Co Down, on August 9th.
It also claimed to have placed devices on the Belfast-Dublin rail line, close to the scene of yesterday's bomb find, on the same date.
It was not clear why a property owned by Mr Haughey was targeted. However, gardaí have not ruled out the possibility that his property was simply being used to test the effectiveness of the bomb.
Mr Haughey was interviewed by investigating officers yesterday, and it is believed nobody has threatened him of late.
A major cross-Border security operation was in place last night involving Garda and PSNI checkpoints along the Border.
The bomb, which was made from home-made explosive, was capable of demolishing the substantial property at Dungooley had it gone off.
"It would have flattened the house, or certainly most of it, and it would have killed anybody in the vicinity," said one source.
The device was found at lunchtime yesterday in a downstairs room of the property, which is currently undergoing building work and has no roof or windows.
The detonator had gone off but it failed to explode the bomb.
Senior Garda sources last night told The Irish Times that a wire of some 90ft was found running from the device to a lane. The explosives were contained in a gas cylinder. The device was also fitted with a booster tube, which is usually packed with a catalyst material to ensure maximum impact.
The device was found by a passing local farmer.
While the house was undergoing extensive work, there have been no builders on site for the last 10 days.
A Defence Forces bomb disposal unit from Gormanston Barracks, Co Meath, was on site before 3pm. It made the device safe. It was then taken from the scene for a full technical examination.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said in a statement last night: "The matter is currently the subject of a Garda investigation. Any such incident is a matter of concern and is to be condemned."