Investigations into suspect device hoax at local school
By Mary Dennehy
REPORTS that a South Dublin County school was evacuated and the bomb squad called on scene have this week been quashed.
Last Thursday, March 25, gardai attended St Mac Dara’s Community College after a phone call to emergency services alleged that a suspect device had been placed at the Templeogue school.
St Mac Dara’s Community College students were sent home
Gardai confirmed that they were investigating ‘reports of a possible suspect device’ at a school in the Templeogue area, and that extensive searches were being carried out.
At the time of comment, no device had been located.
Concerns were raised in the area after reports emerged that the school had been evacuated and the bomb squad called.
These reports have been quashed by the school’s patron, the Dublin & Dun Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB).
According to a statement released by the DDLETB: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our entire school community is always our number one priority.
“We asked pupils to depart the school [on Thursday] after a phone call was received by the emergency services alleging that a suspect device had been placed at the school.”
The DDLETB said that they worked with gardai, who carried out a comprehensive search with the help of a trained sniffer dog.
After the search, the ‘all-clear’ was given and the school re-opened on Friday morning.
“It was not necessary for any other services to attend the school”, the DDLETB statement said.
“Contrary to any speculation, the bomb squad did not attend the school.
“We are most grateful to all students and staff for the manner in which they observed our safety procedures and we look forward to welcoming everyone back tomorrow as normal.
“The Gardai are investigating this unfortunate occurrence and we have no other comment to make.”
Enquiries are ongoing, with Garda having no further update on the incident.
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