'Substantial' Bomb Defused Near Newry As Murder Unites Ireland

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) believes a 500lb bomb it found in a van abandoned under the main Dublin-Belfast motorway on Friday was destined for an attack on a town center.

A major security alert closed the A1 motorway near Newry, Co. Down when a van was found abandoned under a bridge.

Some controlled explosions were carried out on what police say was a viable, sophisticated and substantial bomb.

It's believed the explosives were contained in a wheelie bin that had been put in the back of the van.

"Had it exploded it would have caused huge devastation or loss of life," said Chief Superintendent Alasdair Robinson

The van involved was stolen in Maynooth, Co. Kildare last January and fitted with false Donegal registration plates.

The bomb is one of the biggest discovered in recent years, and its discovery came just a week after the murder of a Catholic policeman in Omagh sparked outrage.

Three men have been questioned in connection with the booby-trap killing of 25-year-old PC Ronan Kerr.

The funeral of the young policeman last week brought about a remarkable display of unity among leading figures in Irish politics.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, a protestant, attended the service - the first time the DUP leader has ever attended a Catholic mass.

He stood alongside Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, whose presence at the funeral of a Northern Irish police officer would have been unthinkable in previous decades.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the funeral on behalf of the Irish people, while Northern Secretary Owen Patterson represented the British government.

The PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott was joined by his counterpart in the south Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.

Ronan Kerry's local GAA club wore their team jerseys alongside uniformed PSNI officers outside the church.

Until 2001, members of the security forces in Northern Ireland were banned from playing GAA sports.

Among the mourners were GAA president Christy Cooney, Ulster GAA president Aoghan O'Fearghaill, Tyrone football captain Brian Dooher and manager Mickey Harte.

The leaders of the four main churches in Ireland all attended the funeral too.

In his homily at the funeral, family friend Fr John Skinnader paid tribute to Ronan Kerr.

"Seeing him sitting behind the wheel of the police car last weekend, I thought to myself: there is the symbol of the new Northern Ireland - a young man living out his childhood dream to be of service to others; to help protect, to make life safer for others," he said.

Catholic Primate Cardinal Sean Brady called for Ronan Kerr's death to be a defining moment.

"Parents and grandparents, I beg you, plead with your children and with your grandchildren, not to get involved with violence," he said.

"Violence has nothing, absolutely nothing, to offer except misery and destruction. Choose life, I say, choose goodness, choose peace. That is what God is asking of you.

"That is what the people of all traditions have been saying to all of us, loud and clear, since the moment of Ronan's tragic death on Saturday last. In God's name stop. And stop now."

Despite the pleas, dissident republicans show no signs of ceasing their activities, as the weekend discovery of the massive car bomb on the A1 motorway proves.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has offered to mediate if dissidents want to enter talks.

On his blog, Mr Adams wrote that republican heartlands were "seething with anger" following PC Kerr's murder.

Addressing dissidents, he said, "The people of this island demand you stop.

"I am prepared to meet you anywhere at any time to listen to what you have to say, and to tell you that there is now a democratic peaceful way to unite our people and our country on the basis of equality."