Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said unionist parties criticising the bailing of a trainee solicitor charged in relation to a bomb intercepted in a car near the Irish border should “respect the independence of our judicial system”. “It is therefore entirely reasonable to ask how the interests of public safety are served by granting bail to someone accused of possessing such material.” Asked about the bail decision on Wednesday, the Taoiseach paid tribute to An Garda Síochána and said those criticising the active case should “respect the independence” of the Republic’s legal system. “We should respect the independence of the judiciary. “We do, both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic, so I think those parties should also respect the independence of our judicial system and the local judicial system.”