Separate threats against Simon Harris and family not linked, gardaí believe
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the three incidents were part of a 'clear and sinister pattern' which, he said, was to 'intimidate' him out of office. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Gardaí do not suspect, based on current assessments, that the three separate threats to Tánaiste Simon Harris and his close family are co-ordinated, the understands.
As it stands, gardaí believe that the two online threats — one threatening Mr Harris’s children and the second threatening a close family member — are not linked.
It is also understood that gardaí do not suspect that the hoax bomb threats against the home of the Tánaiste, made on Sunday, are connected with the social media threats.
There were at least two, possibly three, phone calls to different garda stations. It is thought the calls were not made at the same time.
This might suggest they were made by the same person, but gardaí are not ruling out that different people were involved.
The Garda Special Detective Unit is thought to be taking the lead in all three investigations. The unit is the operational arm of the Garda Security and Intelligence Service. It is tasked with investigating threats to the security of the State, its institutions, as well as threats from violent political extremists and subversive organisations.
The Tánaiste said the three incidents were part of a “clear and sinister pattern” which, he said, was to “intimidate” him out of office.
He further described the threats as “subversive”, and said the hoax bomb phone calls were “co-ordinated and orchestrated”.
Gardaí are investigating the motivation behind the threats to determine if there is a political extremist ideology involved, or whether they are purely criminal or anti-social in purpose, or if the perpetrators have conditions that might be affecting them.
Gardaí have identified the suspect behind the first incident — a social media post threatening violence on Mr Harris’ children — and arrested a woman. The woman, from West Dublin and aged in her 30s, was subsequently released pending the collection of further evidence and a file is being prepared for the DPP.
The understands that the woman was not well known in political extremism circles.
Gardaí are currently in the process of identifying the person behind the second threat, which was made last Friday night.
Gardaí quickly obtained court orders to seek personal details attached to social media accounts.
Investigators suspect that the incidents are not co-ordinated, but they believe an individual might have copied or taken inspiration from the first social media threat.
Sources stress that the picture could change the longer the investigations go on, which could possibly find links or shared interests in extremist, anti-government, or conspiratorial social media groups.
Garda sections are on the alert for a rise in nasty or threatening behaviour online as candidates are finalised for the forthcoming presidential election, as well as the possibility of aggressive physical confrontations during canvassing.
One well-known far-right agitator has posted a video online that he would inflict serious violence on any politician if they acted in a certain way.
Security sources stress there is a gap between people posting hurtful or even threatening messages online and a person with capability of carrying out a physical act of violence.
Gardaí are also on the lookout for protests over barriers set down in law — such as the support of a local authority — that potential candidates must satisfy in order to run for president.
As the reported two weeks ago, laws from 2022 providing the Electoral Commission with strong powers to compel social media companies to deal with disinformation affecting elections are unlikely to be in place for the presidential election.
The absence of the powers, which were significantly delayed due to European Commission concerns, is a source of significant concern among security agencies.
