AN intense security operation is in place to ensure that loyalist bomb threats do not disrupt this weekend's Eurovision contest in Dublin.
There is concern that loyalists will employ the tactic used by the IRA in England to disrupt the Grand National at Aintree last month. A caller, using a recognised coded warning, stopped the race and caused massive disruption by claiming a bomb had been planted in the grounds. Nothing was found.
As many as 40 gardai, mainly surveillance, anti-terrorist and technical experts, are at the Point Depot, Dublin, 24 hours a day before Saturday's event which will be televised live across Europe.
It was not clear yesterday if the Garda had received intelligence to suggest the loyalists were planning to attack the contest or whether the operation was precautionary.
General security at the Point is very tight and every visitor is body searched. Gardai hope the tight perimeter security and internal surveillance will enable them to dismiss bomb warnings as hoaxes.
Disruption of the Eurovision during the live broadcast would damage Ireland's image and could affect tourism and inward investment. Organisers say the broadcast may he watched by as many as 150 million people.
Fears of a loyalist attack have grown recently since a bomb containing 12Kg of commercial explosive was placed at the Sinn Fein office in Monaghan.
The device was powerful enough to demolish several buildings and was the most professionally constructed loyalist bomb yet encountered in this State.
The Ulster Volunteer Force, which planted the bomb, is believed to have sent a team of two men and a woman across the Border.