Man Arrested For Threat On Simon Harris, Taoiseach’s Home
A man arrested for a threat on Simon Harris that was the highlight of the investigation in relation to the threat on Simon Harris and the Taoiseach’s home.
The bomb threat was made six weeks ago and the man was arrested this morning. He is in the custody of Gardai for other unrelated offences as well.
(Also read: Major Investigation Launched Against Online Threat Of Violence Against Taoiseach And Family)
A 53-year-old man arrested for making a threat on Simon Harris is taken to the police station, and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
It is expected that he would be questioned for 24 hours in Midlands Prison. The detectives made it clear that a Section 42 warrant could be generated under which the police have the authority to remove an inmate from the prison.
A bomb threat on Simon and Taoiseach’s home was made through a phone call. He and his family immediately felt a surge of fear after which the phone call was reported to Samaritans Helpline around 6 pm on 26 June.
Gardai came and searched the entire house but nothing was found. During the last three months, it is the third investigation underway regarding Taoiseach and his family.
The man arrested and other corresponding threat episodes
Last weekend showed a similar incident where a threat was made to Simon Harris and his family. It was a post on social media that talked about knives and a mountain. It even mentioned violence against Mr Harris’ wife and children.
After the threat remained on the social media platform for two days, the owner of the company was asked to take it off immediately. However, Gardai proposed that the company should have been vigilant and active enough to remove the post by themselves rather than waiting for police officers to put a request to them.
Any post violating their policies should be removed there and then, Gardai declared. However, as it was the weekend, it took them two days to take action against the post and the account holder.
The Taoiseach confirmed that these threats would not stop him from “performing his duties” and that social media companies are now warned that their regulations need to be stricter. Ireland would not bear with these villainies and will “hit where it hurts” if the companies and the perpetrators fail to know their accountability, Taoiseach verified.
Several other incidents have raised alarm in the minds of the Taoiseach family. Anti-immigrant protests took place twice outside the Taoiseach’s home. Also, his wife and children were getting ready for bed on Thursday night, 2 May, when a group of masked individuals invaded their home. They were holding banners in their hands and chanting anti-migrant slogans.
Images were posted all over social media. June came with a similar act of demonstration at the Taoiseach’s home outside when a small masked anti-immigrant group was waving Irish flags. They had a demand: border closures.
A short while after, Gardai came and dispersed the crowd quickly. From this group, three men were taken into custody. Two were in their 40s while the remaining was in their 30s.
Gardai identified them at once as they were seen at various other anti-immigrant protests all over the country, even at the major protest in South Dublin, Ballyogan.
After threats on Simon Harris, he did not pull back or recoil with fear as he stated that people’s private residences should be kept off limits. It is their safe place and no one has permission to breach their safety zones, he asserted.
