By Elaine Keogh
A section of the popular boardwalk that forms part of a pedestrian link from the Battle of the Boyne site in county Meath with Drogheda has been closed after a suspicious device was found at Oldbridge this (Sunday) morning.
It is believed that the device, which resembled a mortar, was found by a member of the public around 11 o’clock.
A number of people walking in the Easter Sunday sunshine walked past the area it was found in before the discovery was made.
It is possible that the device was lodged in or close to the canal, which runs alongside the pedestrian route, for some time but that has yet to be confirmed.
The boardwalk is extremely popular with pedestrians; it is approximately a 7-8km round trip to walk from the car park at the Battle of the Boyne site to Drogheda using the boardwalk.
The device was found around 3-400 metres away along the walkway in the direction of Drogheda and close to where the tarmac footpath is replaced by the wooden boardwalk.
Gardai closed off access to the entire pedestrian route and the Army bomb disposal team was requested.
In a statement the Garda Press Office said, ‘Gardaí have been alerted to the discovery of a suspicious device at Oldbridge, Co. Meath this morning 4th April 2021.
The area has been cordoned off and the army EOD have been notified. No further information is available at this time.’
