GARDAI are satisfied that a search of a New IRA alliance depot has yielded the most significant seizure of arms and explosives from dissidents for more than a decade.
An extensive search of property at Cloghran in north Co Dublin continued throughout yesterday with an Army bomb disposal team on stand-by during the garda operation.
Since the search began on Wednesday, gardai have seized more than 15kg of Semtex explosive as well as a machine gun, at least four handguns, a couple of shotguns, a hand grenade, and a huge amount of assorted ammunition.
Components for eight pipebombs and another three pipebombs that had been fully assembled were also seized.
Gardai also uncovered a significant amount of sophisticated electronic equipment.
The search was launched after a major surveillance and intelligence gathering operation mounted by the Special Branch and the crime and security section at garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park.
Using hi-tech equipment, gardai uncovered several hiding places where the explosives and weapons had been concealed.
CAMPAIGN
Gardai said the range of the cache left them in no doubt that the terrorists were planning for a violent offensive against the security forces in Northern Ireland.
The dissidents also have longer term aims to mount a new campaign in Britain but lack the organisation and logistical back-up.
Forensic tests will be carried out on the seized Semtex haul to determine when it was brought into the country.
Last night it was not clear whether the high-grade explosives were some of those smuggled into the country by the Provisional IRA in the 1980s.
As part of the ceasefire process in Northern Ireland, the Provos claimed all explosives and arms had been put "beyond use".
However, there have been persistent fears that some quantities were removed from dumps and hidden.
And initial inspection of the find suggests that at least some of the haul could have belonged to the Provos.
