First Minister Michelle O’Neill has branded the attack on Sinn Féin’s Newry constituency office, used by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Newry and Armagh MP Dáire Hughes, as “cowardly.”
Police say they received a report of a suspicious object at Monaghan Street in Newry shortly before midnight on Sunday 5th October.
“ATO attended and examined the object which has been declared a viable explosive device. The device has been made safe and removed for further examination. Cordons have been removed and Monaghan Street has now re-opened,” a PSNI spokesperson said.
In a statement on social media, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill said: “I condemn the cowardly attack on the Sinn Féin office in Newry and extend my full support to Daire Hughes MP, Liz Kimmins MLA, and their dedicated team.”
There is absolutely no place for this kind of behaviour in our society. Sinn Féin will not be deterred or intimidated from continuing our work to better the lives of people and communities across Newry, Armagh, and Ireland.”
The attack on the Newry office of Sinn Féin representatives Liz Kimmins MLA and Daire Hughes MP is a dangerous attack on democracy
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) October 6, 2025
Sinn Féin will not be intimidated or deterred
We will keep working hard to deliver for workers, families, and communities across Armagh and Ireland pic.twitter.com/c6Sj2V573B
Dáire Hughes MP, who shares the office with Liz Kimmins MLA, said: “This is a disgraceful and cowardly act designed to endanger lives and cause major disruption.”
“To those behind this attack, Sinn Féin will not be intimidated. We will continue to represent the community without fear or hesitation. Our immediate focus is the safety of local residents, our staff, and all who live and work in the area. We are fully supporting the efforts of the police,” he added.
“We call on anyone with information to come forward immediately and assist police in bringing those responsible to justice.”
There has been condemnation of the attack from a number of political parties throughout Monday.
DUP Policing Spokesperson Trevor Clarke called it “an attack on democracy,” adding that “on every occasion, that has been wrong and we’ve always stood on this side of the benches and condemned that as wrong.”
SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh, Justin McNulty, said: “I am shocked and appalled at the news that a bomb was left at Sinn Féin’s office on Monaghan Street. Those responsible are to be condemned. Violence and intimidation have absolutely no place in our society.”
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt said: “Liz Kimmins and Dáire Hughes are democratically elected representatives. While I disagree with them politically, I stand with them as elected representatives rather than those who would abuse their right to serve.”
In the Assembly, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said: “I join other Members in condemning the pipe bomb attack in Newry. Such activity has no place, and it never had a place, in any democratic society.”
“Sinn Féin is feeling today what it inflicted on many people during the years,” he added.
