Bomb hoax fails to deter princess from Irish visit

Britain's Princess Royal arrived in Dublin yesterday morning, undeterred by a hoax bomb found within yards of one of her planned engagements.

A suspicious package was discovered at Ducks Lane, Smithfield at 9 a.m. yesterday, just as Princess Anne's flight was due to take off from Northolt Airport on the outskirts of London.

The princess was scheduled to present the Cork Dry Gin Sailor of the Year Awards at the Old Jameson Distillery, Smithfield at 12.30 p.m. The distillery is within the same complex as Ducks Lane.

Princess Anne was due to arrive at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel at 10.40 a.m. However her flight was delayed by 45 minutes. A spokeswoman from the British embassy said the delay was due to adverse weather conditions at Northolt, which necessitated the princess transferring to Bristol airport, and had "no connection to the bomb hoax".

Following her late arrival, Princess Anne paid a brief courtesy call on the President, Mrs McAleese, at Áras an Uachtaráin before visiting the Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks, Blackhorse Avenue.

After a presentation on the history of the Equitation School, she was treated to a showjumping display from Army riders Capt Gerry Flynn, Lieut Shane Carey, Lieut David O'Brien and Lieut Brian Curran-Cournane.

At 12.45 p.m. the princess moved on to the Jameson Distillery, to be met by a strong Garda presence of up to 20 officers. A spokesman for the Garda said the level of security was "standard" for such an event and had not been stepped up as a result of the morning's security alert.

She presented the Sailor of the Year awards to Mr Noel Butler and Mr Stephen Campion.

Princess Anne praised the standard of sailing in Ireland and the work of the Irish Sports Council.

The princess's final appointment of the day was at the British Embassy building on Merrion Road, where she conferred an honorary MBE on Ms Julitta Clancy, founder member of the Meath Peace Group, a voluntary organisation established 11 years ago to promote cross-Border peace and reconciliation.