Taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted “I am staying in my home” as he hit out at a bomb threat on his family residence.
He stated that the usage of the word “hoax” was not a “fair word” as it was a threat designed to “intimidate”.
The Irish Mirror understands that a call threatening to bomb the Taoiseach’s home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, was made to the Samaritans. Mr Harris was at work at the time but his wife Caoimhe and his children, Saoirse, 5 and Cillian, 2 were at home. Gardaí investigated the threat but it turned out to be false.
READ MORE: Bomb threat made to home of Taoiseach Simon Harris
READ MORE: Gardaí move masked protesters from outside Taoiseach Simon Harris' home
In Brussels on Thursday morning, the Taoiseach told the Irish Mirror that the situation was “unacceptable” as he questioned the use of language such as “hoax” and “protest” to describe situations that have taken place at his Greystones home.
“I don't really wish to comment on it other than to say, obviously, this is a clearly unacceptable situation,” Mr Harris said.
“Even the word hoax, I'm not sure it's a fair word, with respect, because I've no doubt these things are done to intimidate, to upset. I have young children. I have a wife. That is a really unacceptable situation.
“I do think that, and I say this really respectfully, I do think all of us in our discourse, including 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 protest when it happens outside my house either. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.”
Asked by the Irish Mirror if he believed he would be safe to stay in his home or if he would have to move, Mr Harris said: “I’m staying in my home.”
Wednesday night’s threat was the third incident at Mr Harris’ home in the last three months. This included one incident that saw men in masks gathered outside his house. There have also been several bomb threats made against the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee. All have transpired to be false alarms.
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