Councillors ‘disgusted’ at those who posted incendiary device to hotel as Derry prepared for Hallowe’en

Councillors expressed disgust at the actions of those who dispatched a viable device to the hotel in Ebrington Square on Tuesday as a fun fair took place nearby and thousands of people were flocking to the city for Hallowe’en.

The Mayor Councillor Grace Uí Niallias raised the matter during Chairperson’s business at the monthly meeting on Wednesday.

“I'm sure as a staff team it was a horrific evening for them and nobody wants to be going back there in our history,” she said.

Sinn Féin Councillor Christopher Jackson concurred: “Everybody I've been speaking to have been absolutely disgusted that people's lives were put at risk and there is absolutely no explanation given by anybody, nobody claiming responsibility for it, nobody is willing to own up to such vile actions.”

Colr. Jackson noted children were enjoying a fun fair metres away from where the incendiary device had been delivered.

"There are thousands and thousands of visitors coming through this city as we speak, enjoying themselves, enjoying the warm welcome of the people of Derry. It is in stark contrast to the reckless actions of some who have put lives in danger,” he declared.

SDLP Councillor Catherine McDaid sent solidarity to the staff of the hotel.

"This ultimately will have terrified them to put it very simply but also the families that were enjoying the funfair and the young kids,” she said.

She added: “We have so many visitors here for what is always the best week in Derry. That's not who we are. This is not the type of people we are. This is not the city we are. We are welcoming to everybody. We are not going backwards.”

Shortly before the meeting in the Guildhall on Wednesday Derry City and Strabane Area Commander Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney said police were working through a number of lines of enquiry, one of which was that dissident republicans may have been responsible for delivering the viable postal device.

During the meeting UUP Alderman Darren Guy said: “It's likely it is some dissident republican group. Twenty-three years ago the British Army handed over Ebrington Barracks to The Executive Office [at that time the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister] and these people calling for 'Brits Out' are the ones who brought the British Army ATO back into Ebrington yesterday evening.”

People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin said: “It was very disappointing that this happened. I'd much rather we weren't talking about this.

"This serves no purpose other than to terrify people who are planning to have a great week through the Hallowe’en celebrations so it is disappointing. We want to get to a situation where this is a thing of the past.”

Colr. Harkin pointed out that as yet there has been no claim of responsibility from any group.

“We don't know yet who put it there or why they did it but it is right to condemn it no matter what because it will not bring the city forward, it will only bring the city back,” he remarked.

DUP Alderman Niree McMorris said: “There is no place in our society for these type of things to be happening. As everybody rightly said our city is full of tourists who come in their thousands to our city in order to celebrate Hallowe’en, which they can do nowhere else in the whole of Europe. It is just disappointing, this is the imagery and the experience they are having in our city.

Independent republican councillor Gary Donnelly said he ‘could not get his head around’ somebody ‘sending an explosive device to a civilian building containing civilian staff’.

"It wasn't a military event and the people who received that would be working class people from either side of the community and I can't understand the rationale why that would happen.

"People are attributing it to republicans or dissident republicans and, you know, I would like to know the rationale,” he said.

The delivery of the device to the hotel was reported to police just after 3pm on Tuesday.

This prompted a lengthy security alert that lasted until just before midnight that evening.

Prior to the meeting Chief Superintendent said: “I can confirm this was a viable postal device that was sent to a hotel in Ebrington.

“Our investigation is at an early stage. We are keeping an open mind as to who is responsible, and we are working through a number of lines of enquiry, one of which, at this time, is that dissident republicans may be responsible.

“I want to thank everyone for their patience and co-operation as we worked through the situation on Tuesday, from the afternoon until close to midnight. We worked to keep disruption to an absolute minimum while working to keep everyone safe.

“What occurred is shameful and utterly abhorrent, and those responsible clearly do not care who or what they harm.

"As our investigation continues, I am appealing to anyone who has information that can help identify those responsible to report what you know, no matter how insignificant it may seem. It could make all the difference."

Information can be provided to police by calling 101, quoting reference number 1089 of 27/10/26 or by submitting a report online using the witness appeal form https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals