Bomb disposal teams make safe devices in Dublin, Kildare and Limerick

Army bomb disposal experts have been called to the scene of three explosive devices finds in Dublin, Kildare and Limerick.

The device in Limerick had already exploded by the time gardaí called in the Army personnel, while the find in Co Kildare involved a number of pipe bombs being found in one stash.

In the latest of the incidents, the bomb disposal team were called in when a pipe bomb exploded outside a house at Seán Heuston Place in Limerick city. The military personnel arrived at 11.20am yesterday and declared it safe just before 1pm.

About the same time in Co Kildare, a number of pipe bombs were found at the side of a road some 2.5km outside Rathangan. The bomb disposal experts arrived at 11.40am and made safe the devices without the need for a controlled explosion.

Gardaí believe the devices were hidden by criminal elements who intended to transfer them for use at an unknown location.

In the third incident, a device was found at 11.30pm on Monday outside a house at Oblate Drive in Inchicore, southwest Dublin.

The bomb disposal team arrived at 12.25am and made the viable device safe in a controlled explosion. The area was declared safe at 1.10am.

The use of pipe bombs has grown in popularity in recent years among criminals looking to extort money or intimidate people.