Funeral for tragic dad PJ
A PARCEL bomb found at an An Post office was almost “identical” to the device sent to Britain by the terror group the New IRA.
Up to 100 staff members were evacuated from the Limerick sorting office when the alarm over the viable device was raised just after 6am yesterday.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan called the attack – and similar letter bombs sent to the UK two weeks ago – “totally unacceptable”.
He said: “The sending of incendiary devices like this is totally unacceptable. I hope the people responsible are brought to justice. This could well be the fifth [device].”
Mr Flanagan said tensions surrounding Brexit could be the reason for the parcels being sent.
He added: “[It is] a dreadful consequence of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit where in the context of the heightened tensions in Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland – that people have taken it upon themselves to send letter bombs, an absolutely despicable act.”
The Limerick package was removed by the Army bomb squad after Gardai at Henry Street in Limerick requested their assistance.
A Defence Forces spokesman said: “An Army Bomb Disposal Team was tasked to investigate a suspect package in the An Post Collection Centre, Docklands in Limerick at 9.50am.
“A viable improvised
explosive device contained in a plastic envelope was identified and made safe.
“The device was then handed over to gardai for further investigation and the scene was declared safe.”
Four similar firebomb packages that contained homemade explosive devices were found just two weeks ago in London and Scotland.
Three were found in jiffy bags at Waterloo Station, City Airport and an address near Heathrow Airport.
A fourth package was found at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
The packages had 2018 Valentine Day stamps which were available to buy at Irish post offices.
The stamps read “Love Eire N” and the packages had Dublin return addresses with one addressed back to Bus Eireann in Dublin.
All packages were A4-sized white postal bags and appeared capable of igniting a small fire when opened.
Using a codeword, the so-called New IRA told a Belfast newspaper they were behind the letter attacks and revealed a fifth parcel had yet to be found.
As revealed by the Irish Mirror, a gang of Irish-based criminals with links to South Armagh and Derry are prime suspects.
Yesterday, gardai said: “This parcel appears to be identical to parcels (pending closer forensic and ballistic examination) found earlier this month in London and Glasgow.
“Gardai continue to liaise with the UK authorities in relation to these inquiries.”
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Gardai at Limerick sorting office yesterday A MAN whose body was found after he had been missing for a month will be laid to rest today.
PJ Fanning, 34, was last seen leaving Mcgee’s pub car park in Wexford town before 5am on February 24.
Gardai recovered his body on Thursday.
Mr Fanning leaves behind children Kyle, 14, and 10-year-old Katie. His partner Melissa Furlong is 18 weeks pregnant.
His funeral Mass will be held at St Peter’s Church, Ballymitty, Wexford.