Man in his 50s arrested following bomb threat to Taoiseach’s home

Mr Harris’ wife and children were in the home at the time.

The threat was made just after 6pm on Wednesday, 26 June, while Mr Harris’ wife and young children were at home.

Gardaí reported at the time that the threat was made in a phone call to the Samaritans helpline.

No device was found after a search and it was later confirmed to be a hoax.

Gardaí have now confirmed the arrest of a man aged in his 50s in relation to the incident.

A statement confirmed that the man is currently detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Garda Eastern Region.

"Today, 9th August 2024 Gardaí investigating threats against an elected representative in June 2024 have arrested a male in his 50s," a Garda spokesperson confirmed.

"An Garda Síochána is not providing any further information at this time."

At the time of the threat on in June, the Taoiseach was in the Dáil for voting.

He had spent the afternoon in Áras an Uachtaráin as Jack Chambers was given his seal of office by President Michael D Higgins and was made Finance Minister.

In recent months, far-right activists have protested outside Mr Harris’ home on a number of occasions.

One incident involved masked individuals arriving at the property of the Taoiseach.

Three people were arrested as part of the subsequent Garda investigations.

Hoax bomb threats had also been made to the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee around the same time.

Other politicians like Green Party TD Roderic O’Gorman have also experienced protests outside their house led by far-right activists.

Speaking to Political Correspondent for Virgin Media News, Gavin O'Reilly, in the days after the bomb threat, the Taoiseach stated that his family had no plans to leave their home in County Wicklow, despite the apparent risk to their safety.

New: Taoiseach Simon Harris says his family do not plan to leave their home in Co Wicklow, despite a malicious bomb threat being made to the house last night. He describes the threat as “an utterly unacceptable situation”. @VirginMediaNews pic.twitter.com/IoiPwetoZR

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 27, 2024