Crime & Law

Suspect package sent to gay rights group Glen proves hoax

Gardaí, Dublin Fire Brigade and Defence Forces attend Dublin city centre offices

Ambulance and fire brigade workers outside the offices of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) after a suspicious package was sent to the premises. Photograph: @glenLGBT Twitter.
Ambulance and fire brigade workers outside the offices of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) after a suspicious package was sent to the premises. Photograph: @glenLGBT Twitter.
Conor Lally
Thu Jun 18 2015 - 19:19

A suspicious device sent to the offices of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) in Dublin city centre on Thursday turned out to be a hoax but resulted in a significant security operation being put into place.

The Garda, Dublin Fire Brigade and the Army’s bomb disposal team were called to Glen’s office on Exchange Street Upper, Dublin 8, when a parcel arrived in the morning post with powder inside.

It also included a handwritten note saying “goodbye”. The emergency services were alerted immediately.

Kieran Rose (right), co-chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) pictured with Taoiseach Enda Kenny ahead of the same-sex marriage referendum earlier this year. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times.
Kieran Rose (right), co-chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) pictured with Taoiseach Enda Kenny ahead of the same-sex marriage referendum earlier this year. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times.

The building was evacuated and a busy area of Dublin sealed off before the package could be properly examined and tested for biological, chemical and hazardous materials.

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The operation continued for five hours until the powder was declared a hoax and the area reopened.

Glen, in a post on its Twitter account, said the response of the emergency services had been “terrific”.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times