LAST UPDATE | 13 Dec 2024

THE GARDAÍ HAS confirmed that the suspicious package sent to the head offices of the Social Democrats this lunchtime was found not credible. 

The army bomb disposal unit arrived at the party’s headquarters after the receipt of a suspicious package which was addressed to newly elected TD Eoin Hayes.

Four party staff members in the building at the time were evacuated and Frederick Street South in Dublin cordoned off.

Two adjoining buildings to the party headquarters were also evacuated.

Staff became suspicious of the package received and called the gardaí who deemed it necessary to call the bomb disposal unit.

In a statement, gardaí said they were alerted to a suspicious package on the grounds of a premises on South Frederick Street, Dublin 2 at around 10:30am this morning.

Gardaí confirmed a cordon was put in place and the army bomb unit was called to the scene.

The Social Democrats’ offices and neighbouring buildings were evacuated and the street was cordoned off while an examination was performed.

The cordon was lifted at around 1.15pm and the package was removed by the army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit.

However, following enquiries, the alert was found not credible.

A Defence Forces spokesperson said: “Following an assessment of the item by the EOD team it was assess that no explosive material was present and the scene was handed over to An Garda Síochána.”

The army bomb disposal unit is currently at the head offices of the Social Democrats after a suspicious package was sent to newly elected TD Eoin Hayes.

Four party staff members in the building at the time have been evacuated and Frederick Street South has been cordoned off. pic.twitter.com/MAZjkyxN6Q

— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) December 13, 2024

Staff are understood to be “rattled” at today’s events and a spokesperson for the Social Democrats thanked gardaí and the Defence Forces for their “swift response and assistance”.

It is understood that there was a household electronic style device in the package which was delivered to the office, and this caused the person who was there to believe that it may have been a bomb.

Sources have said that it was essentially a “false alarm with good intent” and that investigations are underway into the incident. 

Members of the army bomb squad seen here on South Frederick Street after a suspicious package was sent to TD Eoin Hayes.

Hayes, a TD elected to Dublin Bay South, was suspended with immediate effect from the Social Democrats parliamentary party this week.

Hayes confirmed he gave incorrect details about when he sold shares he held in a software firm that supplies technology to the Israeli Defence Forces.

In a statement earlier this week, Hayes said that he had made a “mistake” and it “wasn’t intentional”. 

“I’m new to politics and the spotlight that comes with it, but that’s no excuse. I made a mistake, and I take full responsibility.”

-With additional reporting from Niall O’Connor