Discarded batteries spark scare
DUKE STREET SEALED OFF FOR HOURS
A BAG, discarded beside the bin at the top of Duke Street, sparked a full scale bomb scare as Drogheda came to a standstill on Thursday afternoon.
Gardai sealed off Duke Street and Fair Street after a report, indicating a suspect device on the street.
The area was inspected and due to protocol, it was then sealed off.
Major traffic jams developed right around the town as traffic was directed down Peter Street and Bolton Street.
The army bomb disposal unit was advised of the situation and they arrived on scene around 5.30pm.
A remote controlled unit then inspected the package and it was soon found to be a non viable device,
The road was re-opened around 6pm, allowing a number of cars parked in the area to be moved.
It is believed that the bag was left beside or in the bin some hours previously and a number of people reported walking past it.
One person commenting on the Drogheda Independent Facebook page remarked, ‘I stepped over said device before 9am this morning on my way to work, somebody dumped bag of large batteries beside bin. Came out of work at 3pm to pandemonium 6hrs later..’
People working in nearby businesses were asked to stay indoors or were evacuated from the area.
Staff in the Boomerang Cafe were some of those who had to leave their premises as a number of young people were in the building at the time.