Security of peace bridge and culture office discussed

Concerns were also raised over the potential for IRA splinter groups to attack the UK City of Culture offices in the city centre using letter bombs.

Ilex Chief Executive Aideen McGinley raised the potential security implications concerning the Peace Bridge - designed to bring communities in the city together - at a recent meeting of the regeneration company’s Audit Committee.

The minutes record: “Aideen McGinley stated that security issues and their potential impact upon the Bridge had been discussed as well as the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in respect of the development of the sites.”

Her comments were made in connection to a discussion of the Ilex Risk Register.

Separately concerns were also raised over the potential for letter-bombers to attack the City of Culture offices.

Ilex board member and Director of Tourism, International Development Ireland Ltd Matt McNulty “remarked on postal procedures in light of the recent attack on the City of Culture office and the possible need for a procedure for handling suspicious packages etc.”

The meeting followed just a few days after the Northern Counties building office was damaged by a small blast bomb.

The concern was sufficient for Ilex Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Mary O’Dwyer, to update the regeneration firm’s financial procedures manual accordingly.

Derry City Council confirmed to the Sentinel that counsel was taken on crime prevention at the office.

A spokesperson explained that following the incident at the Culture Office earlier this year, further advice was taken on crime prevention and the appropriate safety measures for the facility.