As part of ongoing operations against dissident Republicans Gardai from the Special Detective Unit, assisted by local Gardai, carried out a number of searches in the Louth and Meath regions this morning.
During the course of the searches Gardai recovered a general purpose machine gun, a shot gun, a pipe bomb, an improvised mortar, assorted ammunition, bomb making equipment and explosives.
Describing today's find as "significant" the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said:
"This find represents a further step in our determined strategy to target, disrupt and detect the activities of dissident republicans. We continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and in the Security Service to thwart the intent of a small group of people who want to inflict violence and pain on communities. Our objective is to stop them in their tracks and secure evidence to put them before the court.
I want to congratulate both the national units and local Gardai who were involved in the operation which led to today's discovery."
The investigation is ongoing and there are no further details available at this time.
Garda Press Office.
