Gardai Express Fear Following Discovery Of Grenades

Gardai have expressed fear of an increase on gang violence following the discovering a cache of grenades, the largest in the State for two decades.

Alongside the grenades, which were brand new and still concealed in the manufacturer's wrapping, there were two submachine guns, two semi- automatic handguns and between 400 and 500 rounds of ammunition.

An international inquiry has been launched after it was established that the grenades came from Eastern Europe.

Officers found the bombs in a shed at the back of a house in a remote area on the Limerick-Tipperary border, between Murroe and Castleconnell.

Anti-terrorist officers identified the faction responsible for importing the cache, which was discovered as a result of an ongoing operation rather than intelligence gathering.

Gardai said the haul represented a very significant step up in the weaponry being acquired by the rival gangs.

(H/GK)