Pipe bomb alerts causing fear

FEARS are growing that a huge increase in the number of pipe bombs will result in the death or serious injury of an innocent local resident on the Northside.

Last year Army bomb disposal teams were called out to examine at least 250 explosive or suspect devices, often used by gangland criminals to intimidate or threaten each other.

Last month a suspected device was rendered safe in Ballymun and local councillor Paul McAuliffe (FF) says residents have expressed their concerns at local safety forum meetings.

“Rarely does a weekend go by now without their being an incident of a viable or suspect device being left at someone’s house or under a car in tit-for-tat gang feuds which have left some residents living in fear,

? he said.

“The increase in the use of pipe bombs in gang feuds in the city is leaving many residents exposed to potential serious injury.

?

On January 10 an Army bomb disposal team was called to Belclare in Ballymun to investigate an improvised explosive device (IED) that turned out to be viable.

The Defence Forces deployed the team in response to a request from gardaí after a suspect device was spotted near a vehicle parked outside a private residence.

The team arrived on scene at 1.10am and examined the device while gardaí put a cordon in place and evacuated nearby houses for safety. The device was made safe with a controlled explosion.

Cllr McAuliffe says he was at another incident in Finglas last year where dozens of residents were forced out of their homes while another device was investigated.

“As chairperson of the local Policing Committee I have seen a very worrying trend of improvised explosives devices being used across the North West of the city,

? he added.

“While gangland style shootings have an impact on the safety of the wider community, the use of these homemade bombs, which by their nature are very unstable, could have potentially devastating consequences for local residents.

“I know residents who are very fearful that children could stumble upon these devices and I would urge the public to raise the alarm if they have concerns or see any suspicious packages in their area.

“We will be discussing this issue at the next Joint Policing Committee meeting and I want to commend the gardaí and the Defence Forces for their on-going work to keep our communities safe.

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Last year was one of the busiest in recent times for Army bomb disposal teams with callouts reaching levels not seen since the height of the Troubles.

However, the number of viable devices dropped to 80 from a record 96 cases in 2012.