Dublin Airport Historical Security Questions

Elmo

I remember a small security check before entering Dublin airport why did they stop this, when did they stop this?

alchemist33

Was talking about this with the wife during the week -- I remember this too, maybe back in the 90s. Maybe they dropped it on the grounds of cost.

Elmo

alchemist33 wrote: »

Was talking about this with the wife during the week -- I remember this too, maybe back in the 90s. Maybe they dropped it on the grounds of cost.

AFAIR it was just an area to quickly check people on entering. Maybe 2 airport police. Was it just at arrivals?

Suppose last weeks events reminded me of it.

Charles Babbage

When things settled down in NI they discontinued this.

bren2002

It's funny I mentioned this at home during the week too. It was a sniffer type probe at the entrance that was run over bags. I remember it from the 80s. I wonder did it work or was it a bit like the tv license detector vans.

Elmo

bren2002 wrote: »

It's funny I mentioned this at home during the week too. It was a sniffer type probe at the entrance that was run over bags. I remember it from the 80s. I wonder did it work or was it a bit like the tv license detector vans.

I remember an actual dog!

BMJD

I remember the long table when you went in the door. It would have been the 80s , maybe early 90's too. I think they used to scan bags, I don't remember them searching people.

highlydebased

Anyone remember the security checkpoint on the approach to SNN in the 90's?

"Picking up or dropping off?"

Always remember it had a neon sign saying Police or something like that in the window

The King of Dalriada

BMJD wrote: »

I remember the long table when you went in the door. It would have been the 80s , maybe early 90's too. I think they used to scan bags, I don't remember them searching people.

It was there later than that. The first time I ever went to Dublin Airport was in 1998, and I remember it bring there.
The long table on either side of the door and the guard with the metal detecting wand.

Of course bring from the North, I thought nothing of it!

Mebuntu

Sometime around the mid-70's the Loyalists planted a couple of small bombs, I think in the ground floor toilets, at Dublin Airport. As far as I can remember an employee at the airport was killed in the subsequent explosion and more people were injured. After that, I believe searches were conducted at the front door.

Bussywussy

highlydebased wrote: »

Anyone remember the security checkpoint on the approach to SNN in the 90's?

"Picking up or dropping off?"

Always remember it had a neon sign saying Police or something like that in the window

that was deffo still there in 2006....there was a very large amount of US troop movement around that time and the defence forces were around too,there was also a garda checkpoint past the viewing area by shannon aerospace where you turn down for the 06 end

Pat Dunne

alchemist33 wrote: »

Was talking about this with the wife during the week -- I remember this too, maybe back in the 90s. Maybe they dropped it on the grounds of cost.

The security checkpoints at the main entrances were put in place at DUB in 1975, following a UDA bomb which killed an Aer Lingus employee and injured a number of others. The checks were phased out as the threat of follow up incidents deminished in the the 1990's.

Strumms

Very limited info about that bombing at the airport. Back in the late 90s I had a job for a couple of months in the Aer Rianta mail room which at that time was on the top level of T1 near to where the spiral access ramps are. Was told by an older colleague that the bomb was planted up there and that the original use of that area was supposed to be a car park but that was changed after the bombing. Edit : actually just read it was indeed the ground floor so that info was wrong. There was a second device however that never went off don't know where that was. maybe some of the older folks here might have a better insight.

I recall the long table alright at the arrivals hall entrance and the AP member flashing the wand alright. Dissapeared soon after the troubles subsided. there was also a security hut if I recall on the way up to the terminal. Different times back then. As an employee going from landslide to airside a quick flash of the ID to the AP and you were through, no screening no nothing. All pre 9/11 of course.

Avada

This was discussed when I was doing my BSAT.
Apparently the first bomb was in the toilets and the second bomb was on the exit route. Both on timers so that after the first bomb went of, the second bomb would harm people evacuating.

Apparently, the employee disturbed the first bomb, and as a result people were evacuated before the second one went off.

HeidiHeidi

BMJD wrote: »

I remember the long table when you went in the door. It would have been the 80s , maybe early 90's too. I think they used to scan bags, I don't remember them searching people.

I'm fairly sure I remember when you had to put your luggage/bags/whatever through an x-ray machine at the entrance doors to the terminal. This was gradually downgraded to where it was just a cursory wave of a bleepy wand, and then it was dismantled altogether.

I can see it all coming back if the current climate persists. Unless, of course, Joe Duffy has his way and starts a campaign against it.....

billie1b

Strumms wrote: »

Very limited info about that bombing at the airport. Back in the late 90s I had a job for a couple of months in the Aer Rianta mail room which at that time was on the top level of T1 near to where the spiral access ramps are. Was told by an older colleague that the bomb was planted up there and that the original use of that area was supposed to be a car park but that was changed after the bombing. Edit : actually just read it was indeed the ground floor so that info was wrong. There was a second device however that never went off don't know where that was. maybe some of the older folks here might have a better insight.

I recall the long table alright at the arrivals hall entrance and the AP member flashing the wand alright. Dissapeared soon after the troubles subsided. there was also a security hut if I recall on the way up to the terminal. Different times back then. As an employee going from landslide to airside a quick flash of the ID to the AP and you were through, no screening no nothing. All pre 9/11 of course.

I can remember long after 9/11 just flashing my ID at AP and getting onto the apron. We use to drive up in vans in groups from landside to airside and I can remember myself only ever having to show my ID as the driver and we were waved through, no searches or badge scannings etc. Different times, the good auld days we refer to them as.

The King of Dalriada

billie1b wrote: »

I can remember long after 9/11 just flashing my ID at AP and getting onto the apron. We use to drive up in vans in groups from landside to airside and I can remember myself only ever having to show my ID as the driver and we were waved through, no searches or badge scannings etc. Different times, the good auld days we refer to them as.

You'd be surprised to know then that that's still the procedure in a lot of US airports. Especially as cargo crew.
I've gone from the hotel to the steps of the aircraft without having to get out of the car.

Tenger

The King of Dalriada wrote: »

You'd be surprised to know then that that's still the procedure in a lot of US airports. Especially as cargo crew.
I've gone from the hotel to the steps of the aircraft without having to get out of the car.

In aviation terms, Europe has been more alert to security than the US due to the political terrorism of the 1970's and 1980's. Hence the disbelief on Sept 2001 at the fact that the hijacker had been allowed knives onboard the aircraft...or "box cutters" as they call them in the US.


The pre-terminal security points were ended as the NI Peace process progressed. With the introduction of armed ERU to DUB and ORK looks like we re back to overt security in airports.

Happened to be in JFK 2 days ago. The US Army foot patrols that have been present for a few months now are now armed with assault rifles, previously it had been less aggressive holstered pistols only.

Pat Dunne

Here are some links in regard on the DUB bombing in 1975.
http://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/airport-worker-was-killed-by-1975-bombing-27768908.html
http://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/remembering-bomb-victim-john-27771115.html
http://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1130/750150-uda-bombs-dublin-airport/

Stealthirl

Strumms wrote: »

Very limited info about that bombing at the airport. Back in the late 90s I had a job for a couple of months in the Aer Rianta mail room which at that time was on the top level of T1 near to where the spiral access ramps are. Was told by an older colleague that the bomb was planted up there and that the original use of that area was supposed to be a car park but that was changed after the bombing. Edit : actually just read it was indeed the ground floor so that info was wrong. There was a second device however that never went off don't know where that was. maybe some of the older folks here might have a better insight.

The car park inside T1 was still in use by employees in the mid 90's and was closed due to security concerns. Wounder whats there now

Avada

Stealthirl wrote: »

The car park inside T1 was still in use by employees in the mid 90's and was closed due to security concerns. Wounder whats there now

There are still cars up there (DAA vehicles), plus store rooms, offices etc.

arubex

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I'm fairly sure I remember when you had to put your luggage/bags/whatever through an x-ray machine at the entrance doors to the terminal.

We had that in NI as well at Belfast International*. The problem was that it clogged people in the entrance foyer with queues snaking out the doors, which was even worse because a potential attacker could just pull-up at the kerbside.



* I don't remember it at Harbour / City but I didn't fly through there much in the 1990s, it was still 'the wee airport' then.