Army explosives experts are preparing to dispose of a live 18lb shell which had been used for years by a Co Tipperary family as a doorstop. The operation to retrieve the shell followed two calls answered to the explosive ordnance disposal team from Collins Barracks, Cork, within three minutes yesterday.
The calls were in response to a warning given by the Army's senior explosives officer on the Gerry Ryan radio show on Monday morning about unexploded bombs and other unsafe devices which are being found in record numbers around the State.
The warning was issued after a young girl found a live Mills grenade in Skibbereen, Co Cork, at the weekend. That device was blown up yesterday.
There have been at least 15 calls to deal with unexploded bombs and ammunition this year. The increase in building and refurbishment of houses is partly responsible for the increased number of devices being found.
Yesterday the explosives team attached to the Army's Southern Brigade received calls at 1.15 p.m. and three minutes later at 1.18 p.m.
The first call was to Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, where a farmer found three detonators and seven .303 bullets. The ordnance dated from the War of Independence.
Immediately afterwards the EOD team went to Holy Cross, Co Tipperary, where a family had become concerned about an old shell which had served for many years as a doorstop.
The EOD officers examined the shell before removing it for disposal. It is believed it is a British army solid-shot shell from the 19th century.
The Army yesterday reiterated its warning to the public to be careful with anything which resembles shells or bombs.
One high-explosive shell recovered recently by the ordnance officers had been polished every week for years. It could have destroyed the house in which it had been kept as a mantelpiece ornament.
Earlier this year the Army team had to close the main route from Dublin city-centre to the airport while they dealt with an 18lb high-explosive shell in a house at Whitehall.