Builders shock at digging up grenades
A builder told today of his shock at finding a cache of First World War hand grenades during renovation work on a house.
Patrick Flood, 31, was digging trenches at the ruins of the property in Heytesbury Lane, Ballsbridge â one of Dublinâs most upmarket neighbourhoods â at around 11.30am when he unearthed six grenades.
The gardaĂ and an Army bomb disposal unit were called to the scene and discovered a further 13 of the vintage weapons before giving the all-clear.
As a precaution, the surrounding houses and site were evacuated and Mr Flood, who started work on the project on Monday, said he was shocked to have made the find.
âI was just digging the foundations and I went down to check the level of the foundations and I just saw them there,â he said.
âThey looked like pineapples. They were just lying around but the Army came in and found more, 19 in total seemingly.
âSome of them had holes through them, so I just shouted to the other workers to get back,â he said.
Mr Flood said the gardaĂ arrived within minutes and the area was immediately cordoned off.
âWe more or less thought they were dead (the grenades) by looking at them but we said weâd just call the guards anyway just in case.
âYou just wouldnât be sure,â he said.
A Defence Forces spokesman said the grenades, which he described as non-viable, were removed from the scene but were not being put on display for photographs.
âWe were contacted by gardai at 11.30am,â he said.
âNineteen old World War One vintage hand grenades were found during renovation works.
âI wouldnât say this is common, but itâs not unusual either.â