US secret service personnel are checking sewer tunnels with cameras before sealing manholes on every road President Joe Biden is set to cross on his visit next week, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
Senior security sources said all routes by air the 80-year-old takes on his four-day visit to the island would be no-fly zones. The Irish Mirror has also learned gardai and the Government will “turn a blind-eye” to the US entourage’s massive haul of guns being brought in, many of which do not have permits.
And politicians will not be allowed to park in Leinster House on the day the President addresses the Dail because spaces there will be needed for up to 40 cars in Mr Biden’s cavalcade. The operation ahead of the visit is well underway as Biden’s officials continue to brief Irish authorities of his plans.
Read more: When is Joe Biden coming to Ireland? All we know about US President's visit
The President heads north to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement on Tuesday, before going to Louth, Dublin and Mayo. Although sources have said that the US authorities do not foresee any major security threat a “no-stone-unturned” policy is in place.
A 200-strong secret service advance party have been scoping out the routes and locations in recent weeks. Tunnels and manholes were examined as part of this and they are carrying out that task again, with cameras, before sealing each one.
A source said: “The team that is over had already done the checks on the tunnels and manholes a few weeks back but they’re under orders to do it again with cameras. The manholes will be totally sealed ahead of the trip.
“It’s a huge job in Dublin alone with a massive subterranean city in which they have to secure every tunnel and seal it all up then.”
Senior security sources say up to 400 secret service staff, who must protect any senior US political figures abroad, will be on the island at any one time with Biden, former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary along with the US special envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III here.
The majority of security personnel are expected to be armed, having applied for 100 gun permits from Justice Minister Simon Harris. Since they have applied for another 200, as some agents will carry two firearms, which have yet to be granted.
Read more: Joe Biden confirms plan to visit Ireland to mark Good Friday Agreement's 25th anniversary
It is understood that Glock 19 and 47s are their weapon of choice. But another senior source explained the US agents will also bring over high-calibre automatic weapons, which won’t have permits – but neither the Government or gardai will take issue.
These weapons will be in President Biden’s bulletproof limo – known as The Beast – and in up to 40 vehicles travelling in the convoy. The source explained: “They may as well grant the permits because they’re going to bring them no matter what.
“Some of these Secret Service men and woman will require two guns, a side arm one and one on the ankle.
“They’ve also a rake of automatic weapons that won’t have permits but authorities here will turn a blind eye. They’ll mostly be in the vehicles the President is travelling in and those travelling in convoy with him.
“The convoy could be 20-plus vehicles but with back-up cars and all the rest it could be higher again at some stages.” Mr Biden, whose wife and the First Lady of the US Jill will not make the trip, flies into Belfast aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.
Although he had been invited he will not go to Stormont but instead is to visit Ulster University to open its new campus in the city centre. He is to address business and civic leaders the following morning nd there is also a possibility he may hold talks with political parties.
From there President Biden will travel to Louth in his Marine Corps One helicopter where he will meet his relatives. His great grandparents James and Catherine Finnegan lived in the Cooley Peninsula before they started a new life in America in the 1850s.
The Irish Mirror has learned he will then go by air to Dublin and stay in the plush five-star Conrad Hotel. Thursday is to be the busiest day of Mr Biden’s visit.
He will head to the Aras an Uachtarain to meet with President Michael D Higgins before visiting nearby Farmleigh House to chat with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and may drop into US ambassador Claire Cronin.
At some stage during the day, Mr Biden is due to address TDs and Senators in the Dail chamber. The secret dervice will not be armed in Leinster House, however some of its members will be standing behind a door within metres of the President as he gives his address.
There is also a possibility he will go to Trinity College but it is not confirmed. That night Biden will be hosted at a Banquet at Dublin Castle with Taoiseach Varadkar, Tanaiste Micheal Martin and President Higgins in attendance.
With his age, there are concerns regarding the demanding schedule. A source said: “It’s very heavy for a man of his age but you just have to wait and see, hopefully he’s able for it.”
Dublin will be in lockdown while he is there but road closures will begin from Monday right through to Friday. Next Friday morning, Biden will then head to Ballina in Mayo on the Marine Corp heli where he will meet his ancestors once more before giving a big speech in front of thousands.
Biden’s great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt and wife Mary left Ballina, Co Mayo, more than 160 years ago. The Blewitts settled in Scranton in Pennsylvania almost a century before the birth of the future president, who is calculated to be five-eighths Irish.
Plans have yet to be finalised, but there is a chance that he will stay in Ashford Castle but it’s more likely that he will return to Dublin by helicopter.
He will leave from Dublin Airport on Saturday morning.
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