Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20059Hoax bomb threat · Co. Longford · 12 Aug 2023

Gardaí investigate hoax bomb calls at Longford shopping centre and Dunnes Stores

On Saturday 12 August 2023, gardaí received two phone calls warning of bombs at Longford Shopping Centre and the Dunnes Stores on the Dublin Road in Longford. Both premises were evacuated and sealed off for around eight hours, and army bomb disposal specialists found no devices. No suspect has been named or arrested. As of 13 August 2023, gardaí were treating the calls as a hoax, had launched a major investigation and appealed for information to identify the alleged caller.

  1. Reported13 Aug
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí received bomb threats made at Longford Shopping Centre and Dunnes Stores.
  • Two separate phone calls warned that devices had been left at both locations.
Where
Dunnes Stores is on the Dublin Road in Longford town, and the shopping centre is in the same county town.
When
The calls were reported to gardaí on the afternoon of Saturday 12 August 2023.
Other details
  • The calls were received at garda headquarters on Battery Road, Longford.
  • The threats led to the evacuation of Longford Shopping Centre and the Dunnes Stores supermarket.
  • Both locations were sealed off for around eight hours, causing lengthy delays into and out of the town.
Investigation
  • Army bomb disposal specialists examined both scenes and found no devices at either location.
  • Gardaí are treating the call received as a hoax, although one source refers to a single call and another to two calls both treated as a hoax.
  • Gardaí launched a major investigation to identify the individual suspected of making the hoax bomb threats.
  • Detectives are trying to identify the alleged hoax caller and have appealed for information.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí received bomb threats made at Longford Shopping Centre and Dunnes Stores. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatTwo separate calls warned of devices being left at both scenes. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe calls were reported to gardaí on the afternoon of Saturday 12 August 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationArmy bomb disposal specialists were called to examine both scenes. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationNo devices were found at either location. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are treating the call received as a hoax. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationDetectives are trying to identify the alleged hoax caller and have appealed for information. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe threats led to the evacuation of Longford Shopping Centre and a major supermarket. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherBoth locations were sealed off for around eight hours, causing delays in the town. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Aug2023
    Reportedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Gardaí hunt hoax bomb caller behind closure of Longford shopping outlets

    Gives the garda account: two calls on Saturday 12 August 2023, treated as a hoax, with no devices found. Adds the public appeal and the eight-hour closure of both sites.