Bomb Threat At Harris Home

Harris at work…

ollowing a bomb threat made against the home of Taoiseach Simon Harris yesterday, the Garda Special Detective Unit are investigating.

The threat is believed to have been made during a call to the Samaritans helpline shortly before 6pm on Wednesday.

The caller claimed that there was an explosive device at the Harris family home, prompting the gardaí to conduct a search. No device was found.

The Taoiseach was at the Dáil at this time, whilst his wife and children were at home.

With the origins of the call still under investigation, garda have said it was unclear whether the threat came from any credible group.

Arriving today for a summit in Brussels, Harris said, “I’m staying in my home. This is a clearly unacceptable situation. Even the word hoax, I’m not sure it’s fair word because I’ve no doubt these things are done to intimidate and to upset.

“I have young children, and I have a wife. This is an utterly unacceptable situation. I do think, and I say this really respectfully, that all of us in our discourse, including the media, need to reflect on how we sometimes comment on these matters.

“You know, if it’s masked men who have turned up outside your house, it wouldn’t be described as a protest. It’s not protest when it happens outside my house.

“And this situation can’t be allowed to continue.”

Garda believe that the call may have come from inside an Irish prison, where inmates are given access to the Samaritans helpline.

The incident is the latest in a string of threats made against politicians and their family in recent months, whilst arrests were made on June 20th following protests at the Harris home on June 14th and May 2nd.