THE RUC found several loaded guns last night in south Antrim, close to the scene of a shooting last weekend when members of the security forces fired shots near a public house.
Officers are believed to have found three guns while carrying out searches near the Derryhirk Inn at Aghagallon. The searches have continued since last Friday night. An RUC spokesman said at that time that members of the security forces opened fire after spotting several men acting suspiciously.
But this account has been dismissed by the pub's owner, Mr Patsy Mulholland. He claims the security forces fired shots at the public house before rushing in.
In addition, Mr Mulholland claims the men, who he said were dressed in black paramilitary outfits, had been hiding in the hedges at the bar's car park and were discovered by two members of his staff. He had earlier telephoned the police at Lurgan, Co Armagh to report suspicious activity.
The RUC has brought in the Independent Commission for Police Complaints to oversee the investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, the security alert at the Fermanagh village of Derrylin was ended at 6.30 p.m. yesterday after British army experts defused two mark 16 mortars. Two schools, 30 homes and several businesses were evacuated and the main road through Derrylin was closed to traffic.
Near Dungannon, Co Tyrone, a petrol bomb damaged Donaghmore Heritage Centre yesterday morning.