BY KEN FOY, CRIME CORRESPONDENT – 28 APRIL 2014 03:30 PM
A DUBLIN man, who suffered severe injuries after he was allegedly involved in putting a bomb beside an SUV which then blew up, is expected to be arrested within days.
Gardai said it was a "miracle" that no-one was killed in the explosion at Long Lane in Dublin's south inner city at 11pm on Sunday, March 30.
Detectives have not been able to speak to the 21-year-old Ballymun man because he is still receiving specialised medical treatment for a horrendous eye injury he suffered in the blast.
"He is out of hospital but he requires hourly medical attention as a doctor needs to administer him with special eye drops," a source explained.
"He has not been arrested so far because it would be simply not practical to have the doctor in garda custody with him but an arrest is expected soon."
Sources say that the injured man was not previously known for involvement in serious crime.
Exploded
"He is a nobody in terms of criminality and gardai have not found any links that connect him to organised crime.
"This incident has been the focus of a major investigation that has thrown up a number of big surprises," the source added.
After the SUV exploded, the injured bomber fled in the direction of New Street and Clanbrassil Street bumping into parked cars and lamp posts because he was blinded by the blast.
However he is not now expected to lose his sight.
Bleeding profusely from his wounds, the man wrapped part of his clothing around his arm and hand and clutched it to the side of his head, according to witnesses.
As he struggled up Long Lane on foot the man dripped blood on to the footpaths and roadways.
The man is believed to have flagged down a taxi on New Street or Clanbrassil Street, going in the direction of St Patrick's Cathedral that brought him to the Mater Hospital.
He remained in hospital for a number of weeks but is now being treated at home as gardai wait to interview him.
The man who owns the targeted SUV is originally from the capital's northside but has been living in a flats complex in Dublin's south inner city in recent times close to his phone business.
Fire
The army bomb squad was called to the scene by gardai after locals in the area near the old Meath Hospital reported hearing a bang and seeing an SUV type vehicle on fire.
The bomb could be heard in a large area of the south inner city and Dublin city centre.
Sources said that "high grade explosive" was used in the device which is described as being sophisticated.
