Dolours Price, former IRA terrorist and ex-wife of actor Stephen Rea, dies of suspected overdose

Gardai are investigating after the veteran republican - and former wife of well known actor Stephen Rea - was found dead from a suspected drugs overdose in Malahide, north Co Dublin.

It is understood that the body of Ms Price (62) - was found at her home on St Margaret's Road in Malahide at around 10pm.

Gardai say that there is nothing to indicate suspicious circumstances in relation to the sudden death of the well known Republican activist who had been in bad health for some time.

Price - who is believed to have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder - was a convicted IRA car bomber who took part in a bombing attack on London's famous Old Bailey Court in 1973 in which more than 200 people were injured.

A senior source said: “She was found unconscious on her bed last night by her son. She has taken overdoses before so that is what is being looked at.”

A post mortem is due to take place on her body at the Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown later today.

Dolours' sister, Marian Price, is a known associate of murdered Real IRA boss Alan Ryan.

The two sisters joined the IRA following the reintroduction of internment in 1971.

Marian Price (58) served seven years in prison for the 1973 Old Bailey bombings but was released in 1980.

Dolours was sentenced to life in 1973, but released on compassionate grounds in 1980.

In 1983, Dolours married the actor Stephen Rea, who was one of the voices dubbed over that of Gerry Adams during the 1980s broadcasting ban in Britain.

The couple, who have two sons together, divorced in 2003.

She remained politically active and during the late 1990s spoke out against the Good Friday Agreement.

Price later claimed to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being force-fed in jail and attempted suicide on a number of occasions.

Dolours herself was a convicted IRA bomber who more recently accused Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams of personally ordering abductions.

She had made numerous claims relating to Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams alleged IRA membership and terrorist activities.

Mr Adams was forced to deny claims made by her that he was a central figure in an IRA decision in the early 1970s to launch a bombing campaign in Britain.

She believed the Louth TD betrayed the republic movement by supporting the Northern Ireland peace process.

Former IRA bomber Dolours Price described how Mr Adams ordered her to ferry captives, including Ms McConville, across the Border to be murdered.

Though Mr Adams vehemently denied the claims, Ms Price also spoke about how he approved the IRA's bombing campaign in mainland Britain.

Ms Price came from a staunch republican background -- her father Albert was interned by the Irish government in the Curragh Camp in the 1950s for IRA activity.

Her aunt, Bridie Dolan, was also an active republican who was blinded when explosives she was handling went off prematurely.