A SERIES of joint Garda/Army searches yesterday uncovered a used mortar and ammunition in an area gardai believe may have been used by the IRA for training.
The arms were concealed in Rockmarshall Wood, Jenkinstown, Co Louth, just three miles from the Border. "We have found a mortar launching pad, a mortar tube and an extended mortar head which had been fired, along with about 100 rounds of spent ammunition", a senior garda said.
The discovery comes just weeks after gardai found two IRA training areas near Scotstown, Co Monaghan, which were also within a short distance of the Border.
On Wednesday afternoon a sealed barrel containing 120 bullets and 80 shotgun cartridges was found near the village of Blackrock, about eight miles south of Dundalk.
The searches in Co Louth will continue this morning.