A 25-year-old law student has appeared in court charged over a bomb which was discovered in a car in County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland.

Isobella Perrie Sullivan, from Abbeylands Park in Clane, County Kildare, was charged with the possession of explosives.

It was alleged she was driving a car which was intercepted by gardaí (Irish police) near Carrickmacross on Wednesday.

The interception was part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity and gardaí believed the bomb would have been driven over the border into Northern Ireland.

The accused was brought before a special sitting of Trim District Court in County Meath on Friday evening.

A member of the Garda Special Detective Unit told the court the vehicle she was driving was searched and the bomb was found in a bag in the back of the car.

The officer said the bomb contained a timing power unit, a detonator and what he believed to be Semtex – a brand of plastic explosive.

The court was told the Irish Defence Forces were called to the scene and declared that the device was a viable bomb.

A defence solicitor told the court Perrie Sullivan lived with her father in County Kildare and she was studying to become a barrister.

The judge said he would grant her bail provided she obtained a €15,000 (£12,800) independent surety.

She must also surrender her passport, adhere to a curfew, provides her phone number to gardaí, and sign on daily at garda station in County Kildare.

Perrie Sullivan was remanded in custody with a further bail hearing scheduled for Monday.