WEAPONS HUNT IS STEPPED UP
Weapons hunt is stepped up after border guns find
By Michael Devine
in Dublin
EXTRA gardai were drafted in today to join the border hunt for terrorist weapons after the discovery of three powerful anti-aircraft guns.
Garda ballistic experts were beginning a detailed examination of the three Russian-made general purpose heavy machine guns and several hundred rounds of ammunition found near Carrickmacross, close to the Armagh border.
The cache was buried under a dry stone wall on a farm at Blackstaff.
The guns and ammunition were hidden In a length of plastic piping sealed at both ends.
Garda Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney, who was in charge of the operation, said they were in excellent condition.
He said the seizure was made as part of the ongoing operation launched after the Omagh bomb, which has resulted in a number of significant hauls of weapons and ammunition.
The anti-aircraft guns were discovered close to the spot where gardai found five AK47 assault rifles, a FN sniper's rifle, seven handguns and bomb parts last September.
Two other hauls of weaponry were made near Inniskeen.
Gardai believe yesterday's haul was part of the Provisional IRA's arsenal and that they were imported from Libya in the 1980s.
Between 1985 and 1987, the IRA smuggled an estimated 134 tons of weapons into the country in four shipments from Libya.
Most of them are buried in bunkers in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Senior security sources discounted a suggestion that the anti-aircraft guns may have fallen into the hands of dissident republicans.
They also rejected a suggestion that they may have been found as a result of voluntary decommissioning by the IRA.
By Michael Devine
in Dublin
EXTRA gardai were drafted in today to join the border hunt for terrorist weapons after the discovery of three powerful anti-aircraft guns.
Garda ballistic experts were beginning a detailed examination of the three Russian-made general purpose heavy machine guns and several hundred rounds of ammunition found near Carrickmacross, close to the Armagh border.
The cache was buried under a dry stone wall on a farm at Blackstaff.
The guns and ammunition were hidden In a length of plastic piping sealed at both ends.
Garda Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney, who was in charge of the operation, said they were in excellent condition.
He said the seizure was made as part of the ongoing operation launched after the Omagh bomb, which has resulted in a number of significant hauls of weapons and ammunition.
The anti-aircraft guns were discovered close to the spot where gardai found five AK47 assault rifles, a FN sniper's rifle, seven handguns and bomb parts last September.
Two other hauls of weaponry were made near Inniskeen.
Gardai believe yesterday's haul was part of the Provisional IRA's arsenal and that they were imported from Libya in the 1980s.
Between 1985 and 1987, the IRA smuggled an estimated 134 tons of weapons into the country in four shipments from Libya.
Most of them are buried in bunkers in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Senior security sources discounted a suggestion that the anti-aircraft guns may have fallen into the hands of dissident republicans.
They also rejected a suggestion that they may have been found as a result of voluntary decommissioning by the IRA.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0555
Published Date: 15-Jan-99
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