GARDAI investigating the discovery of 21 mortars with holding frames near the Louth/Armagh border on Wednesday say they have found no evidence of the weapons being tested or of any recent IRA activity.
Up to 30 gardai from the emergency response unit based in Dublin and from the Louth/Meath Garda division have been searching an area straddling the Border since last week.
They were carried out in Feede and Hackballscross after gardai received reports of flares and bangs there late at night.
The mortars were found on farmland at Ballybinaby near Hackballscross, about 400 yards from the Border. They were in an underground bunker in the corner of a field, hidden from view. The British army base at Forkhill in south Armagh is approximately a mile away.
Garda ballistic experts will examine the mortars this morning and are expected to confirm they are of the Mark VI type which were found in the IRA bomb making factory in Clonaslee, Co Laois, in June. They are approximately 16 in long and easily transported.
This is the first time mortars have been found in this Garda division and they are believed to have been buried in plastic fertiliser bags in the lash couple of weeks.
Unlike the "barrack buster" mortars which are longer and harder to transport, the mortars recovered would require around half a pound of home made explosive and a maximum of 1 lb of Semtex. The larger ones could need about 14 lb. No explosives have been recovered to date.
A Garda source said the smaller type was easily hidden in the boot of a car, adding to speculation they were intended for use in Britain. Since gardai began searching, there have been no reports of late night activity.
The reports of noises being heard late at night fuelled speculation that the IRA have been nesting weapons in advance of a renewed campaign of violence. However, a senior garda co ordinating the search said no evidence has been found of mortars being fired in the area.
There was evidence of RUC activity close to the Louth border this week and gardai say helicopters have been flying close to the search areas. The owner of the farmland where the mortars were recovered is living in Northern Ireland.
No arrests had been made up to last night but it is understood that gardai wish to speak with a number of men in connection with the find.