WWII gun found in church grounds

The Army has made safe a second World War machine gun found in the grounds of a church in Co Meath.

The light gun was found hidden in undergrowth in the grounds of the church in Kilbride parish last night, a Defence Forces spokesman said.

An Army bomb disposal team was called by gardaí to render to weapon safe.

"The team arrived on scene at 8.45pm last night and declared the scene safe at 9.30pm. The weapon has been handed over to the Gardaí for their investigations," the spokesman said.

It was the 194th call out for Defence Forces bomb disposal teams so far this year. They have dealt with 46 viable improvised explosive devices.