THE ARMY bomb disposal unit was called out three times yesterday to incidents in Trim, Co Meath, Leixlip, Co Kildare, and Swords, Co Dublin.
What was described as a viable explosive device was made safe in Trim just after 1am after it was discovered beside the Wellington Monument, a short walk from the town centre.
Gardaí requested the Army bomb disposal team, who removed it to another location and carried out a controlled explosion to make it safe.
It was then handed over to gardaí as part of their inquiries.
No one was injured and no property was damaged. It is unclear whether the monument was the intended destination for the device.
Gardaí are examining closed circuit television footage and have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Trim area at the times involved to contact them. The Trim monument was erected in 1817 as a tribute to Arthur Wellesley, the first duke of Wellington, who was born in the Co Meath town. Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, is named in his honour.
Separately, a part of the main street in Swords was cordoned off yesterday as an Army bomb disposal team attended a call outside the Garda station after a member of the public brought a suspect device to the attention of gardaí.
The team arrived at the scene at 3.30pm and carried out a controlled explosion on the device, which had been located underneath a vehicle. On further examination the device was found to have no explosive content and declared a false alarm.
A Defence Forces spokesman described as a “conventional munitions find” a discovery of first World War-era ammunition at Leixlip Castle.
Five grenades and 131 rounds of .303 calibre ammunition were uncovered after a wall was felled on the castle grounds.