Gardaí investigating the discovery of an explosive device outside Shell’s head office on Leeson Street in Dublin in September have searched the home of a prominent republican in the city.
The search took place in the home of James Monaghan, one of the so-called Colombia Three, in Killester, Dublin 5 this morning and the property remained sealed off.
Gardaí found what they believe to be components for an explosive device at the house. There have been a number of arrests in relation to the find. One of those detained is a 16-year-old boy.
However Mr Monaghan has not been arrested.
Gardaí believe the explosive device was left outside Shell’s office on September 15th as part of the protest against the controversial Corrib gas pipeline in Co Mayo.
The bomb, which was defused by the Army bomb disposal squad, was described by an Army spokesman at the time as "viable, home-made, crude and highly-dangerous".
Colombia's Supreme Court of Justice last year rejected an appeal by defence lawyers for Mr Monaghan (61), Martin McCauley (45) and Niall Connolly (43) against their convictions for training the Farc rebels.
An extradition request was lodged by the Colombian authorities in September 2005 but the Department of Justice wrote back, via the Department of Foreign Affairs, pointing out that there was no extradition agreement between the two states.
The men were initially arrested as they were about to board an international flight at Bogota's El Dorado airport on August 11th, 2001.