Suspicious device found inside the Mansion House

It has been confirmed that a suspicious device has been found inside Dublin's Mansion House.

The Army bomb disposal squad has been called to the scene.

The alarm was raised early this morning after a tip-off revealed that an unexploded bomb may have been left on the premises 25 years ago.

It is thought a loyalist group had planned to target a Sinn Féin Ardfheis being held at the Lord Mayor's official residence in 1981.

Commandant Gavin Young says the scene will remain sealed off while bomb disposal experts examine the device.

"A suspect device was located by our Defence Force specialist search team in conjunction with the Garda Siochana. They then called our bomb disposal team who were in position there from approximately half three. They are now currently making their assessment of the device," he said.