Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, was arrested near the Irish border this week.

17:04, Sat, Jul 25, 2026 Updated: 17:12, Sat, Jul 25, 2026

Isobella Sullivan covers face with pink hoodie

Isobella Perrie Sullivan leaving after she appeared before a special sitting of Trim District Court (Image: Damien Eagers/PA Wire)

A trainee barrister who was allegedly caught driving a car bomb towards Northern Ireland had previously spent time in Syria and was a member of a “political group”, a court has been told. Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, was arrested following the “extremely significant seizure” on Wednesday, with police saying the bomb could have caused serious damage.

The Garda’s special detective unit launched an operation and stopped a vehicle near the Irish border at Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.

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A man in his 40s was also arrested as part of the investigation.

Isobella Sullivan covers face with pink hoodie

Isobella Perrie Sullivan allegedly spent time in Syria (Image: Damien Eagers/PA Wire)

As reported by The Daily Mail, Sullivan’s solicitor Gavin Booth told Trim District Court that despite her political background and time spent in Syria, she had stepped away from political involvement and was studying to become a barrister.

He told the court that Sullivan, who earned a law degree at ATU Donegal, had been “manipulated” into taking a bag across the border and did not know what was inside.

Garda commissioner Justin Kelly said: “Any seizure of this nature is really concerning.

“However, we certainly know that there are a small minority of dissident republicans who did not agree with the Good Friday Agreement, they did not put weapons and explosives (out of use), they didn't, you know, go through with the proper process in relation to decommissioning. So that is something that we continue to deal with.

“There's a small minority of these individuals, I would describe them as radicalised republicans, and this is a threat that we're going to continue to face for some time in An Garda Síochána.

“We work very closely with our colleagues in PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) and the intelligence services in the UK to deal with this threat. But I want to commend the members of An Garda Síochána who are involved in this operation.

“This was an explosive device and it would have or could have potentially caused significant damage.”