Woman arrested after claiming to have bomb at Navan Confirmation ceremony
A Confirmation ceremony at a packed church in Navan was disrupted on Saturday after a woman approached the altar and claimed she had a bomb strapped to her body.
The incident occurred at St Mary’s Church, where hundreds of sixth-class students, along with their families, sponsors and teachers, had gathered for the Confirmation ceremony. The sacrament was being administered by Tom Deenihan at the time.
Woman approached altar during ceremony
According to reports, the woman approached the altar, took hold of a microphone and said she had something to say before claiming she had a bomb. Witnesses said she held her jacket closed while making the statement, causing alarm among some members of the congregation.
However, clergy and teachers at the church responded quickly and calmly, escorting the woman away from the altar and out of the church without the situation escalating.
Many people inside the church did not hear exactly what was said due to the commotion, and while some children were frightened, others only became aware of the seriousness of the situation afterwards.
Calm response praised by parents
Parents and attendees later praised the calm and professional manner in which the situation was handled. The quick thinking of teachers and clergy ensured there was no panic in what was a very crowded church with a large number of children present.
Their actions helped prevent what could have become a far more serious and distressing situation.
Gardaí confirm arrest
Garda Síochána confirmed they responded to a report of a public order incident at the church at approximately 1pm on Saturday.
A woman in her 40s was arrested at the scene and has since been charged. She is due to appear before the courts at a later date. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, no further details have been released.
Investigation ongoing
Church representatives have not commented publicly on the incident. Gardaí have confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
The incident caused shock locally, particularly given that it took place during an important religious ceremony attended by large numbers of schoolchildren and families from across the Navan area.
