‘I have young children, I have a wife’: Taoiseach says bomb threat at his home ‘utterly unacceptable’

By Cate McCurry, PA

The Taoiseach has condemned a bomb threat at his family home, describing it as “utterly unacceptable”.

Gardaí carried out a search carried of Simon Harris’ home, however nothing was discovered.

The threat was made in a phone call to the Samaritans.

Mr Harris’ wife and two young children were in the home at the time.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Harris said: “In relation to my own situation, I don’t really wish to comment on it other than to say this is a clearly unacceptable situation. Even the word hoax is not a fair word because I have no doubt these things are done to intimate, to upset.

“I have young children, I’ve a wife and this is an utterly unacceptable situation.

“I do think all of us in our discourse, including the media, need to reflect on how we sometimes comment on these matters. If masked men turned up outside your house, it wouldn’t be described as protest.

“It’s not a protest when it happens outside my house either.

“This situation can’t be allowed to continue.”

He added that he will continue to live in his Co Wicklow home with his family.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee also described the threat as “deplorable”.