The Provisional IRA bomb factory found in a Co Cavan farmhouse at the weekend had been in use in the first half of the year but it is understood that most of the equipment appears to have been in storage since the ceasefire was called. The factory, the third of its kind to be found in the Republic in just over four years, was being used to manufacture electrical components for bombs and mortars.
A forensic examination of the equipment is to continue over the next few days to determine exactly what was being manufactured at the farmhouse near Crosskeys, about seven miles from Cavan town.
Gardai from the Crime and Security Branch, at Garda Headquarters, led the operation which uncovered the factory. It is understood gardai searched the house a number of times before discovering a false wall in an attic.
Behind it they found what was described as a very well-equipped assembly line, very like the bomb factory found in May 1996 in another isolated farmhouse, at Clonaslee, Co Laois.
The Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Byrne, yesterday praised the work of the officers who uncovered the Cavan bomb factory and said operations against terrorist organisations would continue as long as they posed a threat to the State.
Mr Byrne said: "We have a responsibility to ensure stability and security in this State. At this stage we still have a number of factions that would be termed terrorist organisations. While they exist, I am going to ensure that the resources that are needed to counter their activities are in position."
He said the force's management monitored and considered the activities of terrorist organisations on a weekly basis, and any decision about the deployment of resources would be based on the element of risk arising from the activities of these groups.
At present there were no plans to redeploy resources away from the Border or from any other duties, he said.
He said the discovery of the arms factory in Cavan was "extremely welcome", adding: "That is not to say that we will be stopping our searches for firearms or logistical material. That will go on. We will deploy resources against any organisation that threatens the State in any way."
The Cavan factory is the first major discovery of Provisional IRA weapons since it called its ceasefire in mid-July.
Garda sources do not believe that the Provisional IRA intends to hand in its weapons and think the Cavan factory was being kept in good condition in preparation for a possible return to armed activity.
A 60-year-old man was arrested in connection with the find last Saturday under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
It is expected that he will be released this morning and a file will be sent to the DPP.