The discovery of a booby trap bomb in Co Antrim on Saturday is a deeply disturbing development which shows that dissident republicans are determined to continue their murderous campaign despite the overwhelming rejection of violence in this society.
It is believed a prison officer was the intended target of the under-car explosive device which fell from his vehicle as he was driving through Lisburn.
The device ended up on the ground at the busy Market Place area at probably the busiest time of the week for shopping, putting the lives of local people in serious danger.
Thankfully, no one was killed or injured as a result of this entirely reckless act but it is a worrying development for the prison authorities.
It is only five months since prison officer Adrian Ismay died as a result of injuries he suffered after a bomb exploded under his van as he drove from his home in east Belfast.
Unfortunately, the threat to warders remains, with staff in the Lisburn area warned to increase their security in recent weeks.
There are ongoing tensions in Maghaberry jail involving dissident prisoners but the murder of Mr Ismay, a father of three, was a despicable and completely unjustifiable crime just as the targeting of prison staff, who are employed to perform a public service, is totally unacceptable.
Saturday's alert led to considerable disruption in Lisburn as the device was made safe while a follow-up security operation was carried out in the Lagmore area of west Belfast where a vehicle was seized as part of the investigation.
The dissident campaign of violence not only has derisory support it is also futile and counter-productive.
Many of the people who get involved in these activities find themselves serving a lengthy term of imprisonment.
A case in point is a Belfast man who pleaded guilty to possession of explosive devices, including a beer keg bomb, at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Friday.
William Burns from Ardoyne was sentenced to seven years in jail, with three years suspended, for what the court accepted was a `comparatively minor role' in the dissident enterprise which was intercepted in May last year in Co Louth.
Two other accused have already been given substantial jail terms in relation to the bomb-making haul.
Anyone tempted to support these destructive organisations should think about those who have lost their liberty and others who have lost their lives.
It is a terrible waste and for what?
Dissidents are free to make the case for a united Ireland but they should do so in a peaceful manner.
Their campaign of violence is going nowhere and must end.
