Explosives found in Maynooth University could have killed up to 20 people says ex Garda

The explosives that were found in the locker belonging to Real IRA member Donal Ó'Coisdealbha at Maynooth University could have taken the lives of up to 20 people according to a former Garda.

Mr Ó'Coisdealbha was arrested at Maynooth train station when the components to piece together explosives were discovered in the former Maynooth University staff member's locker at the college, and it was said that the 25-year-old was planning on detonating the bombs during the visit of Prince Charles to Ireland.

He was jailed for five and a half years at the Special Criminal Court earlier this week after he pleaded guilty to the membership of an unlawful organisation.

Some of the components found in Mr Ó'Coisdealbha's locker included a timer power unit, a memory chip board that linked to explosives in Wexford.

The Irish Daily Mail carry quotes from a former Garda who specialised in dissident republican activity, and he said that the explosives could have caused carnage.

"Improvised weapons can equate to firing a high-powered gun indiscriminately at a large crowd of people. Whoever was assisting Ó Coisdealbha, and there were many involved in honing these devices, were skilled in what they were doing. Ó Coisdealbha was the scientist," he said.