Archive - Grenade found outside Town Hall in Kilkenny (1963)

When Kilkenny's Town Sergeant, Mr. Joe Stapleton, arrived at the City Hall on Monday morning he had a surprise awaiting him. A newspaper parcel underneath the Tholsel near the entrance door contained a hand grenade.

Mr. Stapleton telephoned the Garda Station immediately, and Sergt. C. J. Grant, Sergt. T. Fleming and Garda J. Walsh arrived in the squad car and took the grenade away. It was subsequently handed over to the military authorities.

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The grenade was later exploded by having a detonator put to it, and it was then found that the explosives in it were 'dead'.

"I got a fright when I unwrapped the paper parcel and found the grenade inside" said Mr. Stapleton "but I knew it was safe when the split pin was in it. If the split pin was not in it, it certainly would be dangerous".