Huge bomb discovered in farmyard

March 1998

A car bomb is discovered by gardaí in a hay shed on a vacant farmyard in Hackballscross.

Comprised of 560 lbs of homemade explosives, the device is the work of the breakaway Continuity IRA.

The explosives are packed loosely in the boot of a Renault 21, stolen in Newry on 15 December last.

The vehicle is concealed with bales of hay, and is fitted with false number plates.

The shed is near a vacant two-storey house, down a laneway in Annavackey, some 200 yards from the main Dundalk/ Castleblayney road.

The house in unoccupied since October. last

There are no other dwellings in the immediate vicinity, so there is no need to evacuate the area.

Acting on intelligence received, the guards carry out a planned search.

When the bomb is located, an army disposal unit is alerted, and carries out a brief examination of the car.

At least two controlled explosions are subsequently carried out to render it safe.