Dublin council hires expert lockpicking team to tear bonds of love asunder

Sealing your love affair with a padlock might guarantee longevity — until a team of officially appointed lock-pickers gets to work.

Dublin City Council has confirmed it is teaming up with an inner city lock picking club to remove the dozens of “love locks” placed by couples on the capital’s historic Ha’penny Bridge.

The move, which involves the council employing experts from weekly club, Tog, was put forward by the city architects section of the local authority, as the locks were causing paint to chip on the 198-year-old tourist attraction, which was leading to rusting.