Longford Gardaí investigate shocking bomb hoax

Gardaí are conducting an investigation into a hoax bomb scare that shut a major Longford town shopping centre last weekend.

Emergency services attended at the scene of the incident at the Dunnes Stores Shopping Centre on the Dublin Road on Saturday evening.

The Dunnes Stores branch received a call shortly before 6pm about an explosive device at the retail outlet. Staff and customers hurriedly vacated the premises following a public safety message.

Also Read: Sorca Clarke highlights the need for Midlands Homelessness to be addressed

Gardaí were on site immediately and a thorough search was carried out.

The retail outlet and the surrounding car park were evacuated and it reopened on Sunday afternoon.

Investigating Gardaí are examining CCTV footage and phone records to identify the caller.

Also Read: Gardai investigating murder of woman in Cavan

Saturday's incident is similar to one on the afternoon of Saturday, August 12, 2023, when a number of retail premises were cleared following a call about a bomb threat.

Fine Gael Deputy Micheál Carrigy said Saturday's threat was dealt with very professionally: “I think we can be happy that this was something that was not viable. Emergency services and the store have to take all the necessary precautions in these situations.”

Deputy Carrigy spoke of the economic impact of the incident: “The reality is that people had to leave their work. I'd hope technology can be used to trace and identify who made the call.”

Also Read: Longford’s Eric Ehigie joins Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government

The TD said he has confidence in Gardaí's ability to address the issue: “I hope that someone isn't using this as a mechanism to take up and waste Garda and Emergency Services time.

“They have enough to be doing reacting to genuine emergencies. I'm sure if this was used to divert attention away from something else that was happening the Gardaí will get to the bottom of it,” Deputy Carrigy concluded.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed that enquiries are ongoing.

Also Read: Longford farming: Co-operative industry's highest national honour for Arva native