Taoiseach plays down risk of terror attack on Ireland
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has played down the risk of an attack on Ireland by Islamic extremists.
Yesterday, a British-based Islamic hardliner taking part in a debate at Trinity College in Dublin that Ireland was a legitimate target for attack.
Anjem Choudary said Ireland had made itself a target by allowing Shannon Airport to be used by the US military as part of its wars against Afghanistan and Iraq.
However, Mr Ahern said today that intelligence information suggested an attack was unlikely.
Defence Minister Willie O'Dea, meanwhile, has accused Mr Choudary of abusing his entitlement to freely express his views.
"For somebody to come across here abusing our tolerance and identify this country as a legitimate target for the kind of savage terrorism we've seen in other parts of the European mainland is just something that's quite frankly not acceptable," he said.
