Bomb found on Limerick footpath 'a very serious danger to public'

Gardai have described a pipe bomb left on a footpath outside a house in Limerick City as been a "very serious danger to the public" and to the occupants of the house.

Gardaí have described a pipe bomb left on a footpath outside a house in Limerick City as been a "very serious danger to the public" and to the occupants of the house.

The crude device, which gardaí said was viable, was left outside a house on Upper Gerald Griffin Street, shortly after 9.30pm last night.

The bomb was eventually removed and made safe by an army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, that travelled to the scene from their base in Collins Barracks, Cork.

There were a number of people inside the house at the time the explosive material was discovered.

Residents contacted gardaí after hearing noises outside the house and after they discovered the bomb near the front of the house, which is located on the street front.

Sergeant Justin McCarthy, crime prevention officer at Henry Street Garda station, said: "A viable explosive device -- a pipe bomb -- was found outside a dwelling house at Upper Gerald Griffin Street just after half past nine last night.

"The EOD unit from Collins Barracks in Cork, attended and made the device secure, but it presented a very serious danger to the public, in that it was left on the side of the street."

A separate garda source said: "The people inside the house could have been seriously injured, or worse, if this device exploded.

"Not only that but, it was left on the street and it could have caused considerable injury and damage to the public."

The device has been transported to Collins Barracks for analysis, gardaí said.

"There are gardaí studying CCTV in the area do we don't know for sure yet what the motive for this was," the garda source said.

"The investigation is in the early stages

Sgt McCarthy said: "The Gardaí are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry, and we're appealing for any witnesses that may have any information to contact their local garda station, or as always, the Garda Confidential Hotline on 1800 666 111."

Roxboro Road gardaí are investigating and can be contacted on 061-214340.