The Army's bomb disposal teams made safe three pipe bombs yesterday. Two of the devices were found in a north Dublin park while another was found during a search of a house in the west of the city late on Thursday. Fiona Gartlandand Conor Lallyreport.
Two of the devices were discovered by a man out walking his dog at Fairview Park at about 8am yesterday.
They were close to bushes and a Dublin City Council building in the park, and approximately 100 yards from the well-known pedestrian bridge which crosses Fairview's busy thoroughfare.
They were also about 100 yards from the port tunnel, which passes under the 20-hectare park at a depth of 69 feet.
The man contacted the gardaí and the Army's explosive ordnance disposal team arrived at the scene shortly after 9am.
When the devices were examined, they appeared to be viable so a section of the park was then closed to walkers. The devices contained explosive powder and a firing mechanism fashioned from fireworks.
Gardaí believe they were most likely made to order by a criminal gang. They are working on the theory that both bombs had been left for collection.
Michael Persel and Martin Maher, both park workers with Dublin City Council, were evacuated from the council building.
"We were told to stay away from the yard until they finished their work," Mr Maher said.
The men said they did not see anything suspicious, but feared that there may have been a shooting when they saw Garda cars arrive at the park and the Garda helicopter flying overhead.
Garda forensic experts examined the remnants of the devices after they were made safe.
Insp Liam Dillon of Clontarf Garda station appealed for anyone who saw any unusual activity in the park area to contact them.
A third device found in a house in Ronanstown was taken to Fairview Park and made safe at the same time as the two devices found there. It was similar in construction in that it contained explosive powder with the triggering mechanism fashioned from fireworks.
It was viable but was not capable of being immediately detonated. The device had been packed with nails and washers and could have caused extensive damage had it been used.
It was found as gardaí were carrying out a search as part of an investigation into serious crime in the west of the city.