‘Explosives have been left at Minister’s family home’
A SAMARITANS volunteer said she was left ‘really shook’ after receiving a call saying explosives had been planted at the family home of the Minister for Justice.
Michael Murray, 52, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Co. Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else, while he was jailed in the Midlands Prison on March 7, 2021.
His trial opened yesterday and is expected to last a week.
A Samaritans volunteer told prosecuting barrister Seán Gillane that she was on duty on March 7, 2021 when the phone rang at around 8.30pm. She answered the phone and after a few moments of silence heard a male voice say ‘can you take a message?’
The woman agreed and the caller said: ‘This is the Irish National Liberation Organisation. Explosives have been planted at the home of the Minister of Justice and her family. The password is Red October. This is to do with a court case happening in Dublin tomorrow.’
She said she was ‘really shook’ after the call and called her supervisor before ringing emergency services. She made a statement to gardaí the following day on March 8.
Under cross examination, the woman told defending barrister Garret Baker she could not see the number that made the call when she answered. She said that usual procedure would have been to call emergency services before calling the supervisor.
In his opening speech, Mr Gillane told the jury Helen McEntee was the Minister of Justice when the call was made. Counsel said the minister’s home was searched but no explosives or anything untoward was recovered.
Mr Gillane said the jury will hear that the call was traced back to Midlands Prison and further analysis of the phone systems there ultimately traced the call back to Mr Murray’s cell, where he was the sole occupant. The trial continues.