A Donegal family got more than they bargained for when it turned out their leisurely beachcombing efforts meant they had brought an unexploded bomb home from the beach yesterday.
But fortunately this story ends well with the Army’s explosive ordnance disposal team called in and successfully dealing with the World War 1 artillery shell at a house in Letterkenny.
Bomb Disposal Operator with HOBO Robot (Credit Irish Defence Forces)
The shell was discovered on a Donegal beach by the family as they were out walking. They brought the interesting-looking object home but became concerned that it might not be safe and contacted the Gardaí.
After assessing the situation the Army bomb disposal team were contacted and arrived on scene yesterday afternoon. To ensure public safety, the bomb disposal team established a cordon and evacuated local houses before conducting an initial assessment of the munition. On completion of the assessment the shell was transported to a secure military location for further examination and disposal. The scene was eventually declared safe later in the day.
A Defence Forces spokesperson said “Historic munitions from early 20th century conflicts can be encountered from time to time. Should members of the public find such munitions they are advised to maintain a safe distance, inform An Garda Síochána, who in turn will request Defence Forces assistance.”
A lot of weird and wonderful things wash up on our shores all the time and sometimes bringing these odd treasures home can be a great little memento from a visit to the coast. But if you find something suspicious or even a little bit bomb shaped, maybe think twice and call in the experts!
