Dublin mayor residence evacuated

Sinn Fein MEP Mary-Lou McDonald said it was bizarre

The Lord Mayor of Dublin's official residence has been evacuated by police during a security alert.

It follows UVF claims to the Belfast Telegraph that they left a device at the Mansion House in 1981 during Sinn Fein's annual conference.

Lord Mayor Vincent Jackson was told on Wednesday evening to leave because of the alert. Surrounding streets have not been cordoned off during the searches.

Army bomb disposal experts have been concentrating on the roof area.

Nothing has been found as yet in the Dawson Street building.

Gardai would not officially confirm reports that the searches were linked to a claim by the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force that 25 years ago they planted a device there which failed to explode.

Sinn Fein Dublin MEP Mary-Lou McDonald said it was "somewhat bizarre".

"If there is a device in the Mansion House, it's not the first time that the UVF have planted bombs in the city," she said.