TWO pipe bombs and a propulsion unit for a typical IRA mortar were found in a four foot bunker yesterday in the continuing search of farmland at Ballybinaby, Co Louth, by the Garda and Army. Yesterday was the third day in a row that an IRA arms find was made since the operation on isolated farmland began nearly six weeks ago.
Gardai said they found two 18 inch pipe bombs containing explosives in the bunker, which were later detonated in a controlled explosion by Army experts. A quantity of explosive material was also destroyed.
There were components for other mortars in protective wrapping, improvised mortar stands and a number of blank and Irish vehicle registration plates.
In another location, they found a large quantity of detonating cord, command wires and three timing power units which would be used to detonate bombs, as well as some cleaning fluid for firearms. These items were in plastic containers in large stone walls up to a mile from a road, which itself is less than half a mile from the Border near south Armagh. All the arms and explosives have been recovered within a square mile area.
A Garda spokesman confirmed that with the exception of 23 mortars and mortar fuses found during the earlier searches, all the items are believed to have been hidden before the IRA ceasefire.
He said that searches continued during the ceasefire period, and the current searches in Ballybinaby began in late September after gardai received reports of flashes and bangs in the area at night.
The searches are expected to continue for the rest of this week.