Arms are recovered by gardai from three sites in Kildare

The Garda uncovered a significant amount of arms and ammunition from three sites in south Co Kildare yesterday.

The sites are all within a few miles of each another between Athy and Vicarstown.

The arms included 20 mortars and mortar casings, which were found at Milltown Bridge on the Barrow Line extension of the Grand Canal, outside Athy, and in a field beside the Barrow, near Vicarstown.

Seven of the mortar casings were found in a dry well at Milltown Bridge, while a further 13 mortar casings and 20 mortars were found near Vicars town.

Finds at the third site, near Blackwood Bog, included two rifles with more than 300 rounds of ammunition, a revolver, flak jackets and first aid equipment.

The Garda activity was low key and locals enjoying a peaceful Sunday afternoon were largely unaware of the drama.

Ms Constance Brophy, with her daughter Ms Anne Kelly and Ms Kelly's two sons, were driving near Vicarstown when they stopped to investigate a number of unfamiliar vehicles in one of their fields.

They were initially prevented from entering their land by gardai and reacted with disbelief when told by The Irish Times of the arms find.

Boaters who were moored at Vicarstown and locals in the village's two pubs also expressed surprise at news of the find. There had been nothing unusual to disturb the warm summer's evening, they said. However, locals in the area of Blackwood Bog said they had noticed increased Garda activity in the area over the last 24 hours.

While some of the locations were overgrown, Garda sources said a barrel containing the mortars at Vicarstown bore the date 1994, indicating that the weapons had been stashed after that date.

Yesterday's search followed another operation last week in which police in Slovakia arrested and have detained three men, all from the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth.

The arrests follow a security operation involving UK police and intelligence services. Britain has issued warrants for the extradition of the three to Britain to face charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

It is understood that the British security service became aware that the "Real IRA" was attempting to buy arms again in eastern Europe. A man, in his 40s, who was said to be a close associate of the founder and first leader of the "Real IRA" was reported to be in Slovakia, along with two other less senior members of the organisation.

Since the collapse of the Soviet regime, arms dealing has become a major form of organised criminal activity. The "Real IRA" had previously acquired weapons, included modern rocket launchers, in Croatia.