A conference centre at the Citywest Hotel was evacuated earlier this afternoon.
The main auditorium in the Citywest hotel in Dublin where the Fine Gael Ard Fheis was due to take place this evening had to be evacuated earlier today because of a security alert.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny had been due to address his party colleagues at 7.30pm this evening, but reports suggest that the conference centre had to be evacuated after what appeared to be an empty bullet cartridge was found on the stage from where he was due to make the address.
Security alert I reported on at FG Ard Fheis involved bullet being left on stage where Taoiseach due to give address, leading to evacuation
— Mary Regan (@MaryERegan) January 22, 2016
What appeared to have been an empty bullet cartridge was left on stage where Kenny is due to give Ard Fheis address at 7:30
— Mary Regan (@MaryERegan) January 22, 2016
According to UTV, it has not been confirmed whether or not it is an imitation bullet.
There is a strong Garda presence at the Ard Fheis, which will continue at the Citywest Hotel tomorrow.
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