GARDAÍ IN LOUTH have discovered explosives, firearms and ammunition during a follow-up search operation targeting dissident republican groups at lands near Omeath.
Searches carried out on 1 February, in the same area on the Cooley Peninsula, recovered a substantial quantity of ammunition of varied calibre along with a mortar tube.
During yesterday’s search operation, gardaí recovered a number of explosives, two firearms and a sizable quantity of ammunition of various calibres.
Gardaí said this probe formed part of investigations targeting the activities of dissident republicans.
The army EOD team – assisting members of Garda Special Detective unit – destroyed some of the material in a controlled explosion.
A spokesperson said that gardaí wouldn’t provide any further details at this time due to “operational reasons”.
New IRA
As previously reported by TheJournal.ie, the find on 1 February is linked to the so-called New IRA – a splinter group which gardaí and the PSNI believe is in the process of unearthing weapons stored in remote areas along the border.
As we move closer to the possibility of a no deal Brexit, gardaí believe certain elements of the dissident community are unearthing caches of weapons which have been buried in a number of locations across the region for a number of years.
Dozens of areas are suspected of being utilised in this way but police on both sides of the border need concrete evidence before a dig for munitions is launched.
Former Chief Constable of the PSNI, Hugh Orde, warned about the risks of a border leading to a resumption violence in the area.
Orde said recreating a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic would have “huge consequences in terms of security” and police and customs officers “would become a target”.
With reporting from Garreth MacNamee
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