The forensic scientist who examined material found at the 1974 Dublin bombings said yesterday he believed the bomb was of a type used by terrorist groups such as the IRA at that time.
Dr Jim Donovan, the former Chief State Forensic Scientist, said he did not find anything unusual or unexpected when he examined material from the bomb scene.
The IRA was using this type of bomb and had built up expertise in bombing techniques, he said. The UVF, on the other hand, were "pretty backward" in detonating bombs at the time of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings.
From casual chats he had with people, it seemed "a bit unlikely" that the UVF could have co-ordinated the bombs.
Loyalist bombers would have needed "direction of some sort, to direct them how to detonate the bomb, how to assemble it, where to park it for maximum effect, how to get away", Dr Donovan said.
His evidence gives credence to one theory that the material used in the Dublin/Monaghan bombings may have been confiscated from the IRA.
Last month the retired British explosives expert, Lieut Col Nigel Wylde, told the committee that the ammonia nitrate explosives used in the attack were not in the possession of loyalist bombers at the time and that they could not have acted alone.
Yesterday Dr Donovan said he examined a very limited supply of material from the bombings as he was dependant on what the gardaí brought him.
Not many resources were put into scene searches at that time, he said, as forensic science was in its infancy in Ireland.
Earlier Dr Donovan told the committee that a garda "handed me a First Communion sandal, but in it was still a foot".
He said he did not take the sandal for analysis as he felt it might be needed in the identification of victims. He also wanted to show respect to the victim.
The current director of the State's forensic science laboratory, Dr Sheila Willis, told the committee facilities for the forensic examination of material from bomb scenes had not improved much since the 1974 bombings.
Asked by Labour deputy, Mr Joe Costello, what would happen if there was a bomb attack today similar to the 1974 attacks, she replied "we'd be in difficulty".
In 1974, samples were sent to Northern Ireland for forensic examination and this would probably still have to happen today, Dr Willis said. The State had the technology but not the infrastructure, she added.
Meanwhile Mr Seán Murphy, author of a book on the National Archives, told the committee the archives were understaffed and poorly resourced.
He said this was significant in the context of inquiries into the Dublin/Monaghan bombings, as official records relating to the events were due to be released under the 30-year rule next January.
