Gardai last night described as "very significant" an arms find in Co Wexford. Garda sources indicated the arms may have been moved into the site recently. The find included 2 lb of Semtex explosive. Also found were a Smith and Wesson .38 handgun, a Star 9mm pistol, a .25 Jennings pistol, ammunition and what was thought to be a home-made rocket-launcher.
The ammunition was of heavy .50 calibre used in heavy machine-guns and sniper rifles.
It was discovered under a hedge in a field near Castlebridge, Co Wexford, in an area at the centre of an intensive security operation since late last week. "It's part of the ongoing investigation into the operations of dissident republicans in the south-east," a Garda spokesman said. Gardai said the arms were in "very good condition" and had been there for only a short time.