Swordsman breach at Leinster House ‘surreal’

Junior minister Sean Sherlock has described how a man brandishing a sword above his head ran past him during a major breach of security at Leinster House.

The Cork TD said the incident felt “surreal” as the intruder leapt over a barrier and raced for the main building before being intercepted.

“I was just walking by the plinth on the way to therevolving doors when a gentleman ran past me brandishing a sword and, but for the vigilance of the gardaí and the staff here at Leinster House, I think he would have gained entry. But the minute he reached the steps they had reached him, apprehended him, and he didn’t get beyond the revolving doors at the front of Leinster House,” Mr Sherlock told RTÉ.

“It was quite a surreal experience, a breach of security, but in fairness to the staff they handled it well and responded rapidly.

“The sword itself was something that you would see out of a movie — a typical rapier if you will. A side arm that would be carried by perhaps a soldier, built into the waist, something that you would take out of a scabbard.

“He was brandishing the sword above his head. He ran past me, he wasn’t screaming or shouting or anything like that.

“He appeared to be quite calm throughout it and that’s what was surreal, because I just happened to turn around and saw this gentleman bearing towards the doors.

“The staff were on the ball, they had the building locked down in jig time.

“And while it was a breach of the front gates, in fairness, I would say it’s a one-in-a-million incident and business is going on as usual.

“It was all over, quite literally, in a matter of seconds.”

Few TDs and senators were in the parliament complex ahead of the end of their Easter break today.

The man was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station for questioning.

The intruder is believed to have had knives in his footwear.

One knife was discovered on the plinth at Leinster House by a journalist after the intruder had been taken away.