A man in his 30s was last night being questioned by gardaí in Limerick after a substantial seizure of explosives and drugs in the city. Kathryn Hayes reports.
Three-quarters of a kilo of commercial explosives with the potential to cause "horrendous damage" were discovered yesterday in a search of waste ground behind a house in Ballinacurra Weston on the south side of the city. Cocaine with an estimated street value of €80,000 was also found.
The discovery was made just 24 hours after gardaí seized two loaded handguns, drugs and 50 rounds of ammunition in a search of waste ground in the same area.
It is feared the explosives found yesterday were destined for use in the ongoing feud which has claimed the lives of four people - including that of crime boss Kieran Keane - in as many years.
It is not known where the explosives originated but they may have been stolen from a commercial operation.
In a search nearby on Wednesday, two semi automatic 9mm handguns were discovered along with 50 rounds of ammunition and cocaine and cannabis worth €3,000. Senior gardaí have described the seizures as "very significant".
"This is a very significant breakthrough, especially with the discovery of the handguns and explosives which had the potential to do horrendous damage," said a Garda source.
The man was being held last night in Limerick city under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, which allows him to be held for up to 72 hours.