The latest device was delivered in the mail to the tourist base at Sligo, in the West of Ireland two days ahead of the all-Ireland referendums on the Stormont agreement.

Irish Army experts were called in and dealt with the device in a controlled explosion.

Security spokesmen said it was similar to a package sent on Tuesday to the tourism headquarters in Dublin. That device, which was packed with ball-bearings, was also dealt with by an army bomb disposal unit.

Tuesday's incident prompted Irish Tourism Minister Dr Jim McDaid to put all Irish tourist offices on a global alert for possible attacks.

He made it clear he blamed those who were trying to wreck the peace process.