Security breach at Shannon leads to tighter controls
The serious security breach at the airport was exposed as part of an audit carried out by officials from the Department of Transport in May.
It is a major embarrassment and comes at a time when the Department of Transport has contacted all Irish airlines, advising them to be extra vigilant in light of last week’s London bombings.
The matter is particularly serious given that thousands of American visitors and US troops pass through Shannon Airport each week.
The weapon smuggled through check-in at Shannon was concealed in clothing, the Sunday Business Post revealed yesterday.
The breach followed just one month after major security shortfalls were also exposed at Dublin Airport. On that occasion, knives, guns and a simulated bomb went undetected in Dublin during an audit by European Civil Aviation Council inspectors.
Security in Dublin has since been stepped up but in the initial period, there were lengthy delays at check-in.
Yesterday, a Dublin Airport spokeswoman said problems with delays had been completely resolved after extra security staff were drafted in. She added that, over the weekend, one of the peak times during the busy tourist season, there were no delays at security check-in.
But the airport would not comment yesterday on any heightened security measures in the wake of last week’s bombings in London, saying it was policy not to discuss security matters of such a delicate nature.
