Security precautions following a bomb threat mean parking restrictions for Dublin city centre.
In response to a purported Ulster Defence Association (UDA) bomb threat, Gardaí in Dublin have imposed parking restrictions in the city centre. Parking is limited in and around the main shopping areas on both north and south sides of the Liffey. Cars are banned from all the major department stores, Roches, Clerys, British Home Stores, Arnotts and Dunnes.
Superintendent Tom O'Reilly from Store Street Garda Station says the parking restrictions serve a number of objectives. The main one allows people feel that they can come into the city centre to do their shopping as pedestrians without fear of bomb scares or traffic congestion.
Pedestrians will be quite free to go where they like.
The restrictions will also help to cut down on illegal parking.
Garda Superintendent Tom O'Reilly does not believe the security threat is as serious as people might think. However Dublin Gardaí will be operating road checks and the parking restrictions will continue over the Christmas period.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 December 1983. The reporter is Alan McCullough.
