'Enough semtex to make 30 car bombs' found in RIRA stash.
NIALL O'CONNOR – 12 JULY 2013 02:30 PM
THIS is the massive haul of weapons and deadly explosives that had the potential to cause "widespread destruction".
Almost 15kg of the highly dangerous semtex discovered at a Real IRA storage depot was to be used for dissident attacks, senior gardai believe.
The lethal substance was discovered during a massive garda dig at a site at Cloghran, close to Dublin Airport, last week.
The seizure was one of the most significant in the history of the State and has come as a major blow to the criminal activities of dissident republicans.
Ammunition
The large quantity of semtex was seized along with a massive haul of guns, detonators and ammunition.
The Herald was shown the scale of the garda find – which included a replica 'golden gun'.
Our pictures show the spectacular cache of weapons – which also include an Uzi sub machine gun, double barrel shotguns and a Taser stun gun.
Other bomb-making equipment, including detonator cord and igniters, were also found by gardai.
But it is the sheer quantity of semtex – which has been used in some horrific attacks in the past – that has put gardai on high alert.
Superintendent David Taylor told the Herald that the 15kg of plastic explosive had the potential to create 30 car bombs.
"These weapons are meant for one reason, and one reason only – to kill and maim and cause great destruction to the community," Supt Taylor said.
"I have no doubt this will put a dent in the operation of these (dissident) groups."
A large quantity of pipe bombs was also discovered at the site in Cloghran on July 3 – which was raided following a long-running intelligence operation.
While gardai are investigating whether further semtex is being stashed in the country, the site at Cloghran represents the largest dissident republican arms dump discovered by gardai south of the border.
Semtex has been used in some horrific and violent explosions and was previously acquired by the IRA from former Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi in the mid-80s.
It was also used by the IRA to carry out terrorist bombings in London in the 90s and has been used during dissident attacks on police officers in the North.
While some of the weapons discovered at the site looked in poor condition, Mr Taylor said they remained lethal.
"We are talking about saving lives here. These weapons are so lethal and therefore, this represents a highly significant seizure."
