Dad (62) missed daughter's wedding after 'bomb in luggage' joke at Dublin Airport

Tom Tuite

A father missed his daughter's wedding by triggering a security alert at Dublin Airport when he made a "horrendous" joke about having a bomb in his luggage, a court has heard.

Iraqi national Jamal Hameed (62), of Park Gardens, Hansfield, Wood, pleaded guilty to causing a false alarm at Terminal 1 on December 22nd, 2025.

Dublin District Court heard that the bomb scare occurred when he and his party were travelling abroad for his daughter's wedding.

Judge Karen Dowling was told that when officials asked him if he was carrying any prohibited items, "he told them he had a bomb in his luggage".

Pleading for leniency, defence solicitor Paul Byrne said: "It was a joke, in horrendous bad taste".

He submitted that his client had no prior criminal convictions and that there was no real threat.

The solicitor stressed that his client was a long-term resident in Ireland with children in university.

The court heard that, as a consequence of Hameed's remark, he and some family members, who were due to travel with him, had their flights cancelled and that "he missed his daughter's wedding".

Byrne informed the judge that his client did not work due to health reasons.

Judge Dowling told him that passing the remark was not right, especially as he was about to catch a flight.

She noted from the defence that the accused, who has lived in Ireland for five years, was willing to engage with the Probation Service.

Byrne said his client would do anything that was asked of him.

Hameed did not address the court and listened to the proceedings with the aid of a translator.

Judge Dowling adjourned sentencing until a date in July to allow a probation report to be furnished and to include an assessment of his suitability for community service.

Hameed was remanded on continuing bail.