Gardaí seek Interpol assistance in probe into threats against Simon Harris

James Cox

Gardaí have sought the assistance of Interpol in the investigation into threats against Tánaiste Simon Harris, with some of the threats believed to be from extremists outside of the country.

The Special Detective Unit (SDU) has obtained IP addresses that indicated some of the threats against Mr Harris and his family orginiated abroad, The Irish Times reports.

Interpol is an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control. It is the world's largest international police organisation.

Gardaí have sought its assistance as concerns rise over the recent series of threats made against Mr Harris.

Last week, callers phoned into Garda stations claiming their was a bomb at Mr Harris' family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

A woman from west Dublin was arrested two weeks ago after allegedly posting a threat to abduct Mr Harris' children.

When asked how his family were doing in the wake of the threats recently, Mr Harris said they were doing "okay".

"It's been a pretty rotten time. This was a difficult decision. I mean, generally in politics you're kind of meant to shrug it off, shut up, move on, get on with it.

"I just felt, in consultation with my family, that we couldn't do this because of the level of viciousness and the vile nature of the threats targeting my children, very close family relatives, and the sustained, relentless nature of it I think and thought needs to be called out.

"This is not who we are, these are crimninal acts.

"Whatever people thinks of anybody's politics, I'm a democratically elected member of Dáil Éireann, I'm the leader of a political party, I'm the Tánaiste, the deputy Prime Minister of this government, and people are entitled to go about their business, as are their families, free from abuse and criminal behaviour."