Gardai in major investigation after explosive device 'went off' under Kilkenny car

Gardaí are appealing for information following an incident that saw an explosive device placed under a vehicle in Kilkenny City earlier this year.

The incident took place in The Butts area of Kilkenny in the early hours of Friday, March 1, 2024.

A car arrived shortly after 1am to the St Joseph’s Road area of The Butts and the occupant(s) of the vehicle placed an explosive device under a car parked on the street.

That explosive device subsequently 'went off', a garda spokesperson said, and damaged the car extensively.

Thankfully, nobody was physically harmed in the incident.

Gardaí have since described the incident as ‘a case of mistaken identity’ and the garda spokesperson further stated that ‘the intended target wasn’t in fact the person that the suspect(s) were thinking it was’.

“It has left people very shocked and in a state of trauma from the event,” the garda spokesperson added.

It is understood that the suspect(s) arrived on the night in a blue Kia Ceed (2012-2018).

Picture: A similar model Kia Ceed - An Garda Síochána/Crimecall (RTÉ)

The route they took to The Butts was from the Stephen Street area, through Dominic Street and up by The Waterbarracks.

The suspect(s) fled the area using the same route and then entered the Kilkenny ring road at the Callan Road Roundabout.

They continued along the ring road up as far as the Hebron Road roundabout where they then headed towards the N10 and the M9 motorway.

Gardaí are looking for any information that members of the public might be able to provide in relation to the car and its occupant(s).

If you have any information, please contact Kilkenny Garda Station (056 77 75000) or the Garda Confidential Line (1800 666 111).