Two people have been arrested after the army bomb squad attended the scene of a car stopped by Gardaí in Monaghan.
The vehicle was stopped on the N2 south of Carrickmacross on Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the Garda Special Detective Unit stopped this car at around 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, as part of an operation targeting Dissident Republican activity.
The Defence Forces' Explosive Ordinance Team was called in and searched the vehicle, however Gardaí say they're not releasing the outcome of that for operational reasons.
The driver of the car, a woman aged in her 20s, was arrested and is being held in custody.
Gardaí have since arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the investigation - he's being held at a Garda station in Dublin.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, says the bomb had the potential to cause catastrophic damage.
A Garda spokesperson says:
"At approximately 3pm on 22nd July 2026, members of An Garda Síochána attached to SDU (Special Detective Unit) stopped a vehicle travelling on the N2 south of Carrickmacross.
"Following the vehicle stop, An Garda Síochána requested the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces EOD team.
"The EOD team completed an examination of the vehicle.
"The outcome is not being released for operational reasons.
"A female (aged in her 20’s), the driver of the vehicle, arrested and detained pursuant to Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 (as amended), continues to be detained.
"A male (aged in his 40’s) has since been arrested in connection with the investigation, and is detained pursuant to Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 (as amended), at a Garda station in the Dublin region.
"Investigations ongoing."
