Funding to a loyalist ex-prisoners' group has been frozen following the discovery of heavy weaponry in Ballymoney, Co Antrim. The move was made by Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust director Avila Kilmurray.
A Browning machinegun, a .22 rifle with silencer, stun gun, replica guns, parts of a booby-trap bomb, ammunition, balaclavas, military-style clothing and other weapons were found in the Edward Street premises on Wednesday.
Police arrested one man for questioning about "serious crime in the Ballymoney area" yesterday. The Progressive Unionist Party distanced itself from the find after reports that the office was used by its members. Party leader David Ervine said the PUP had not used the office since February 1999.
The NIVT are to investigate the matter further. Previously, it had granted funding of £56,600 to the EPIC project office for ex-prisoners as part of the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.