A number Manchester United fans from Derry were among the thousands caught up in the drama which saw Old Trafford evacuated because of a security blunder.
More than 78,000 people arrived at the ground on the final day of the Premier League season, hoping to see their team pip rivals Manchester City into the final Champions League spot, with victory over Bournemouth.
However, the game was abandoned less than an hour before kick-off as local police and stadium security reacted to the discovery of a suspicious object in the North-western quadrant of the stadium.
It has since emerged the suspect package was a dummy bomb used during a training exercise at the ground by security firm Security Search Management & Solutions Ltd.
United season ticket holder Martin Duffy and his wife Ursula (pictured) were just about to take his seats with friends and family when the stadium was evacuated.
“We were just about to walk into the stadium and we heard a fella shouting Code Red and we had to abandon the stadium,” he explained.
“We had to leave and walk down to where the players’ cars are parked up.
“We stood there for about 15 minutes then the stewards came out and told us that the match was abandoned and that was it. We had to walk away from the stadium and walk back to the hotel. There wasn’t much we could do about it.”
With United set to play in this weekend’s FA Cup Final at Wembley and the European Championships in France just a few weeks away, the decision to abandon the game was not easily taken, but Harkin agreed that the correct call had ultimately been made.
“I have to say the security staff did a great job because everyone got out quickly and there was no panicking,” he continued.
“Everyone is safe and that’s the main thing. Everyone is guessing what it is but security were saying that after Paris, no-one is taking any chances any more. We just had to get as far away from the stadium as possible.
“I feel sorry for the children. I’m alright because I’ve been coming here for years and years but I feel sorry for any children who travelled over because that could have been the first time they came to a game and they went away disappointed.”
Martin Gallagher was at the game with his son and grandson.
Three other members of Martin’s family had also travelled over to Manchester for the weekend.
Martin said they had just taken their seats around 2.30pm when the ground was evacuated.
“We were led out to the car park and told that we would be readmitted within 45 minutes. However, the stewards then came out about ten minutes later to tell us the game was being called off.
“We were all obviously disappointed, especially the young ones, but I have to say everything was well organised by the stewards and security staff and I am just glad that no one was hurt.”
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