Convicted child sex offender Michael McMonagle is believed to have been the intended target of a pipe bomb attack in Derry that forced an elderly couple from their home on Monday evening.
The former Sinn Fein press officer lives in the same street where the explosion took place.
The PSNI say they are pursuing a case of potential mistaken identity as part of the investigation.
McMonagle is due back in court this week to be sentenced for 14 child sex offences.
The house in Derry’s Limewood Street in the Bogside where Pipe bomb was thrown through the living room window.
PACEMAKER BELFAST 05/11/2024
The elderly couple were left in a state of severe shock after a device was throw through a window of their home.
Neighbours say the couple’s son arrived on the scene and took them from the property to get them to safety while bomb disposal officers examined the remnants of the device.
Neighbours are said to be furious at the targeting of the elderly couple who are well known and respected in the area.
Dissident republicans are being blamed for the botched bomb attack.
A security alert was sparked in the Limewood Street area following the incident on Monday evening.
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Detective Sergeant Mark Gingell said police received a report at around 7.30pm that an object had been thrown at a house in the area.
“Officers attended and observed the remnants of what they believed to have been a pipe bomb device and alerted army technical officers,” he said.
“The object, which has been declared as a viable suspected pipe bomb, has been removed and taken away for further forensic examination.
“It is believed that this device was put through the window of the house and has exploded. This has caused damage to the property but could have led to the occupants being badly injured or even killed.”
He issued an appeal for information.
“We are appealing to anyone with information regarding this crime, and anyone who may have captured any footage in the area on Monday evening to contact detectives at Strand Road on 101, quoting reference 1516 of 04/11/24,” he added.
The house in Derry’s Limewood Street in the Bogside where Pipe bomb was thrown through the living room window.
PACEMAKER BELFAST 05/11/2024
Foyle MP Colum Eastwood condemned what he described as a “shocking and distressing” incident.
“There’s no excuse for the attack on the home of an elderly couple in Derry this evening,” the SDLP representative said.
“The people responsible have caused distress to this family and disruption for the community.”
In September McMonagle, 42, from Limewood Street in the city, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
He had originally faced 15 charges, including attempting to incite two children to engage in sexual activity.
He was also accused of 13 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.
The offences relate to various dates between May 2020 and August 2021.
Michael McMonagle
At his first court appearance last year he was charged with three offences but 12 more were added later.
When he was re-arraigned in court in September, he spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
When the charges were put to him, he pleaded guilty to 14 of the 15 offences.
A prosecution barrister said another charge was being left on the books.
The court was told that a pre-sentence report would be prepared and a psychological assessment would be carried out.
McMonagle was also placed on the sexual offenders register, he is expected to be sentenced later this week when more details of his offending will be placed before the court.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Enquiries are continuing and detectives are investigating the possibility this may have been a case of mistaken identity. The investigation remains at an early stage”.