QUESTIONS have been raised as to why it took police two days to find a suspicious device in Enniskillen.

On Monday, March 15, a man claiming to be from the Continuity IRA (CIRA) rang the office of the The Impartial Reporter and claimed that shots had been fired at Enniskillen Police Station.

He said that a device had also been left close to the police station on the Shore Path, and said it was not a hoax, and to clear the area.

A recognised codeword was understood to have been used during the call.

However, an Impartial Reporter visit to the area just after the call had been reported showed life going on as normal, with many walkers making their way up and down the path, oblivious to any potential threat close by.

Later on Monday, the PSNI released a statement saying that “nothing untoward” was found during searches close to the station.

However, two days later – yesterday, March 17 – the scene changed dramatically as the police confirmed they were at the scene of a security alert in the Riverside area of Enniskillen, following the discovery of a suspicious device.

A bomb disposal team arrived at the area in response to the alert.

Their arrival and deployment calls into question how long a device had been sitting there, had the police conducted a thorough search of the area, and if the device was discovered by a member of the public.

When asked these questions on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the PSNI said that as it was an ongoing incident, there was no further information available, which remained the case by the time of going to print.

Cross Community Labour Alternative Councillor for Enniskillen, Donal O’Cofaigh, said on Wednesday that questions needed to be answered about the device and how long it was left undiscovered so close to residential housing.

He said: “I understand that this follows [PSNI] investigations which started on Monday.

“I have engaged with the police, and they are unsure of how long this device has been here but there are obviously questions if this device had been there long enough that people may have walked past it – children, people walking, having a bit of a break from the lockdown.

‘A disgrace’

“It has to be said that leaving a suspect device in this residential area – this is a very large residential area in Enniskillen – is nothing short of a disgrace. ‘Foolhardy’, would be the right word for it.

“People could have suffered dreadful consequences as a result of this.”

Councillor O’Cofaigh said that leaving such a device is “achieving absolutely nothing”. He continued: “The communities totally reject it. I have spoken to the community leaders in this area. They are disgusted that this is still happening.

“It has to stop – now. People want to be left alone, and to get on with their lives.”

There was condemnation of the initial security alert from First Minister Arlene Foster, and Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s subsequent turn of events, the First Minister said: “It [the alert] raises concern and caused disruption within Enniskillen. It serves also as a reminder of the bravery of our security forces who place themselves in harm’s way to protect us as a community.

“It is clear, however, that there remains those within our community who offer nothing other than violence, and the threat of violence in order to advance their warped agenda.

“There must be a united response from across our community to say clearly that those responsible have nothing to offer.

“I would appeal to anyone with information about these incidents to assist the police in bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

Also condemning the threat of violence, and also speaking before Wednesday’s morning’s events, Mrs. Gildernew said: “Reports that shots have been fired at the police station in Enniskillen are very concerning.

“There can be no place for such incidents in our society and those responsible have nothing to offer the community. The resulting security alert in the area brought nothing but disruption.

“Those behind incidents like these need to pack up and end these futile actions immediately.”

The alert followed just days after the PSNI had warned the local community in the Fermanagh Border area to be wary of any suspicious objects, and not to touch them.

Chief Inspector Robert McGowan said: “On March 13, we received a report that some type of device had been left in the Fermanagh Border area, specifically in the areas of Cavan Road and Clones Road in Newtownbutler.

“The investigation is ongoing to determine the location of any such device, but at this stage, the area has been searched and nothing has been found. We would continue to appeal to members of the local community to be vigilant.”