Gardaí assess threatening communications sent to schools

Gardaí are assessing the contents and credibility of threatening communications sent to a number of schools in Ireland on October 14, while the Department of Education said schools could operate normally unless Gardaí advised otherwise. The communications were reported on the same day as nationwide public-sector strike action that included teachers. In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said the force was aware of a communication sent to educational establishments and was engaging with schools as it assessed the matter. The Department said it had been made aware of the email and had consulted Gardaí. It advised schools that received it to report the threat to Gardaí. The Department said it had passed that advice to schools, boards of management, management bodies and unions, and that schools could continue operating as normal unless Gardaí instructed otherwise. The reports do not establish how many schools received the communications. Some accounts described dozens of schools, while Gardaí and the Department referred to a number of educational establishments. No official total was provided.