Substantial arms cache found in Omeath
A major cache of ammunition was found in woodlands near Omeath during a planned search by gardai on Friday last.
Local garda personnel from the Louth division were backed up by anti terrorist officers from the Special Branch and the Emergency Response Unit.
Gardai also requested the assistance of the Army’s bomb disposal unit for a time, as they attempted the safe removal of the ammunition.
Around a thousand rounds of ammu- nition and a mortar tube were reportedly discovered in two locations about six kilometres from the north Louth village.
It is reported that the assorted ammunition was for use in small arms and semi automatic rifles.
They were concealed in lunch boxes stashed into a barrel, which had been buried in the ground.
The empty mortar tube was found wrapped in plastic in a separate spot nearby.
The discoveries followed a big search operation by gardai, with the aid of a digger, as a result of intelligence gathering by officers.
They believed the haul was being stored in the Republic for use in the North by dissidents whose aim it was to attack the security forces and cause disruption.
Garda sources said the material found appeared to be ‘in working order’