Bombmakers are 'enemies of people' - Cowen
Foreign Affairs minister Brian Cowen today described the makers of the bomb found near the border in Co Monaghan as "enemies of the people".
As detectives continued to search the area where 60lbs of homemade explosives were discovered in a milk churn last night, Mr Cowen said the dissident republicans thought to be responsible were a small criminal minority who would be dealt with through the legal process.
The device, which had a booster charge but no timer, was uncovered last night at Leitrim Bridge, yards from the border with Co Fermanagh, and was made safe by army experts.
Security sources suspect the bomb was to intended for use by the dissident Continuity IRA group planning an attack north of the border.
Mr Cowen said today: "These people who are insistent on carrying on attempts at attacks on life and property represent nobody and they are simply enemies of the people.
"There are still some, albeit a small minority, who try to give the impression that they are acting on others’ behalf.
"They are simply a criminal element who have to be dealt with according to our laws."
Gardai were alerted when they received a call telling them a device had been left on the road between Clones and Cavan.
Mr Cowen added: "I want to congratulate our security forces for ensuring that this product was not brought to its ultimate destination, wherever that might have been.
"It is indicative of the very strong hand that has been taken by our security forces in these matters and I hope that they can continue to have continued success.
"It is a reminder to us all that the only way of solving all these problems is peacefully and through the political process."
