Authorities in Ireland are currently probing a bombing threat that was aimed at Simon Harris, the Taoiseach’s home in Co Wicklow. The enquiry is being spearheaded by the Garda Special Detective Unit, which deals with counter-terrorism affairs.
An unidentified person contacted the Samaritans helpline before 6pm, announcing claim that an explosive existed in the Harris household. The helpline immediately raised the alarm.
Garda officers rushed to Mr Harris’ Greystones residence. Upon searching the entire estate, no explosives were located.
It is reported that Mr Harris was in the Dáil when the events unfolded, however his wife and children were home. Surprisingly they weren’t evacuated during the inspection.
While it’s still uncertain as to whether the threat originated from a believable source, investigators have started digging deeper into the origins of the call.
When contacted, the Taoiseach’s office spokesperson did not wish to comment on the situation. An anonymous source from the Harris family put the rest of the family up as being “all okay”, mentioning that the episode was “outrageous”.
The Garda’s spokesperson stated, “The force doesn’t provide any comment on matters concerning security of Government Ministers or any elected representatives”.
This circumstance is yet another addition to the frequent threats made against politicians and their family members in recent times.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s husband and two kids were removed from their home following two bogus bombing threats in April.
The prank calls were made to the Samaritans charity prior to the removal of Paul Hickey (her husband) and their two sons who are one and two years old, from their home in Co Meath.
Garda removed the three individuals from the property while Ms McEntee was absent. A search was conducted by the Special Detective Unit but yielded no results.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expressed disgust at the previous threat towards Ms McEntee.
Sinn Féin TD Donnchada Ó’Laoghaire described the threat against Ms McEntee as “appalling”. He also said “There is absolutely no justification for such actions or the distress it could have caused for her, her husband and two toddlers. There’s no viable excuse for this action”.
At the beginning of this year, a previously convicted sex offender who fraudulently reported a bomb threat targeted at Ms McEntee’s residence from the Midlands Prison was informed that he would be incarcerated for an extra two years.
Aged 54, Michael Murray, earlier a resident of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, was duly convicted for deliberately making a false bomb scare implying a risk to another individual’s safety while serving time at the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on the 7th of March, 2021.
Moreover, he made this deceiving phone call via the Samaritans.